A FAN CAN DREAM
Scenarios to replace Garoppolo with Watson, Stafford won’t come to fruition in ’21
A week into the 49ers’ offseason and daily speculation hasn’t stopped about their 2021 quarterback.
It’s this draft prospect or that one. This veteran or that one. This pipe dream or that one.
Fans are envisioning just about any scenario that ends with their scouting prowess producing a Lombardi Trophy after 26 dry seasons.
Surveying the 49ers’ Faithful through social media — hey, it’s not like the sports bars are open to gauge popular opinion — confirmed that quarterback remains a nauseatingly over-discussed topic.
The “any chance” hypotheticals will run rampant until, most likely, Jimmy Garoppolo takes the first snap for a fourth straight season — with hopes he’ll actually stay healthy enough to take the last one and kneel for a Super Bowl victory.
Sure, the 49ers can pull a fast one and replace Garoppolo, at greater risk of locker-room discord than financial hardship.
Allow me to take a stab why each potential successor won’t arrive this year at 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way. Here we go, in random order:
DESHAUN WATSON » Thursday’s reports indicate the Houston Texans’ quarterback is mad at
ownership and pondering a trade request, mere months after signing a $160 million extension with a notrade clause. You’re telling me the Texans’ new general manager (Nick Caserio) and coach (to be named later) are willing to come in and unload a superstar in his prime, who threw for 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns this year — without DeAndre Hopkins? And eat $21 million in their 2021 salary cap in the process? Nope.
Plus, it would take Shanahan mor tgaging the 49ers’ next couple drafts, for a quarterback he passed on in the 2017 draft. Shanahan said Monday this will be a “huge” draft with their amount of picks (likely nine) to supply needed depth and talent. That doesn’t strike me as a down payment he’s willing to make on one position, as valuable as it (and Watson) are.
ZACH WILSON >> His stellar season at BYU has 49ers fans envisioning him as the next Steve Young (their last quarterback to win a Lombardi Trophy, of course). Wilson told BYU TV on Wednesday he’s “very familiar” with Shanahan’s system and “I’d fit in well there.” Why he won’t: It’s unlikely he’d fall to the 49ers at No. 12 overall. If he’s indeed a top-five candidate, it’s even more unlikely
the 49ers would part with the draft-pick equity they covet after last season’s fiveand- done draft class.
JUSTIN FIELDS >> The Ohio State quarterback looked great last game, not so great the game before, and he can win the national championship Monday, if he again plays through pain. His 49ers’ availability depends on them jumping up to grab him before quarterback-needy teams such as the Jets (No. 2), Falcons (No. 4), Lions (No. 7), Panthers (No. 8), Broncos ( No. 9), Cowboys ( No. 10) and Giants (No. 11). In other words, once Trevor Lawrence goes No. 1 to the Jaguars, there’s a parade of teams next in line who are way more desperate for a quarterback than the 49ers. If Fields falls to the 49ers, that’s a red flag, perhaps traced to the Buckeyes’ scary lineage of NFL QB busts, most recently Dwayne Haskins and Terrelle Pryor.
MATTHEW STAFFORD >> Do the Lions’ new general manager and coach really want to start off by ditching their all- time passing leader, someone who’s thrown for the seventh- most yards (45,109) and touchdowns (282) in NFL history, while in Detroit purgatory? For those thinking potential hire Robert Saleh can just take Garoppolo with him, this is where we point out Garoppolo’s no-trade clause, for destinations such as Detroit that are strangers to the Lombardi Trophy.
MATT RYAN >> Connecting dots is always a shrewd
move in offseason puzzles, and Ryan indeed MVPeaked in 2016 with Shanahan as his offensive coordinator. It would be insane, however, for the Falcons’ new general manager and coach to start their regime by ditching Ryan at a $44 million charge to a decreasing 2021 salary cap. Ryan, 35, got sacked more than 40 times each of the last three seasons, and he might top that if the 49ers don’t improve their line, where one of his protectors would be his cousin, right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
KIRK COUSINS >> Ditto? Shanahan had hoped for a 2018 reunion from their Washington days, but along came Garoppolo with a December to remember in 2017. Cousins got a raise last offseason, and the Vikings would eat over $20 million in cap money to deal him. Do you
really think Cousins (51-51-2 as a starter) is a wiser investment in 2021 than Garoppolo (24-8), even though Cousins is more durable?
TOM BRADY >> A year too late? Rather than come home in 2020 to his native Bay Area, Brady went to Tampa Bay, passed for 4,633 yards and secured their first playoff berth since 2005. The Bucs won’t dare let him skip town. He also has a no-trade clause as part of his two-year, $50 million guaranteed deal. Check back in 2022, on a 45-year- old Brady.
AARON RODGERS >> Hey, it’s another all-time great from Northern California who grew up loving the 49ers. Think this ( MVP- caliber) season convinced the Packers they’ve had enough of him and are ready for Jordan Love, their first-round pick? He’d count over $31
million against the Packers’ cap if they let him go in 2021. Not happening.
PHILIP RIVERS >> Four years ago, there was a January rumor that Rivers sought a Chargers’ trade to a 49ers team that had yet to hire Shanahan. If Rivers, 39, plays an 18th season, he’s said it will only be with the Colts. That is what he should say when he’s heading into Saturday’s playoff opener at Buffalo. Even if the 49ers woo he and his family back to California, it’ll likely be a one- anddone contract, when the 49ers seem in favor of at least one more season with Garoppolo.
CARSON WENTZ >> Hey, he beat the 49ers in Week 4, before getting bashed and benched this season. His contract is an albatross that the Eagles must endure, not the 49ers. If a North Dakota State quarterback is in the 49ers’ future, it should be Trey Lance from this draft.
SAM DARNOLD >> He’s property of the Jets, which offers some forgiveness for his 13-25 record. He got drafted No. 3 overall in 2018, a year after the 49ers blew that same pick on Solomon Thomas. Even if the Jets try over with the No. 2 pick this year on a quarterback, Darnold won’t be given away, not even with the NFL’s worst passer rating this season (72.7).
DAK PRESCOTT >> Let’s say the Cowboys let him go rather than franchise tag him at $37 million for his comeback from a fractured ankle. When it comes to highly paid quarterbacks with ankle issues, the 49ers already have one (see: Garoppolo, 2020). Look for the Cowboys to take the risk, instead, and keep him on a multi-year deal.
DREW BREES >> The 49ers messed up his ribs this season, and they saw firsthand that his arm indeed might be better off holding a microphone for NBC, as is planned for next season. New Orleans has him under contract through 2021, but we figured we should include him in this exercise since we did the same with his NFC South counterpart, Brady.
MITCHELL TRUBISKY >> Look, Shanahan preferred C. J. Beathard (third round) over Trubisky ( No. 2 overall) in the 2017 draft. At least Trubisky came back from the dead and won three straight in December to reach the playoffs. Keeping Trubisky and Matt Nagy together one more season in Chicago is more likely than importing the hot-and-cold QB to San Francisco.
NICK MULLENS >> The 49ers’ 2020 passing leader is listed here as a reminder that, because of his recent elbow surgery, he may not play in 2021. That means the 49ers will hunt for a quarterback more than ever in Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s five years. Good thing we gave them warning labels on 14 other quarterbacks.