Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi, now a contributor to The Athletic, does not believe John Lynch’s recent statement that the San Francisco 49ers is happy to enter the 2021 season with Jimmy Garoppolo in charge. If they were, he doesn’t think the team would be calling the league to ask about anyone who might be available. Most assume that Lynch is doing his due diligence as a free agency and the project is fast approaching.
“They are very active, very aggressive to go back another year with someone they don’t fully trust,” wrote Lombardi this week.
Lombardi also does not believe that coach Kyle Shanahan is interested in Teddy Bridgewater and doubts that the 49ers asked about the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback. That report came from Lombardi’s colleague at The Athletic, Joe Person.
“The 49ers coach, Kyle Shanahan, was never a big fan of Bridgewater during his stay in Cleveland, when Bridgewater was available in the draft,” explained Lombardi. “Shanahan is very specific in what he wants for his attacking position as a defender, and those qualifications do not fit Bridgewater’s game.”
Lombardi was the general manager of the Cleveland Browns during Shanahan’s (2014) season as an offensive coordinator there, which was also the year that Bridgewater joined the league.
Lombardi is convinced that Shanahan is interested in adding a defender, but not any defender. The writer cites two potential options that could convince the head coach to leave Garoppolo.
The first is Sam Darnold, from the New York Jets.
“Why? Because Darnold fits the profile that Shanahan loves in position: athletic, he can shoot by moving left or right and he has the strength of his arm to make the defense defend every blade of grass on the field,” wrote Lombardi. “The 49ers could acquire it with a second round choice and then negotiate with Jimmy G.”
Lombardi notes that the Jets are looking for a high choice in the second round for Darnold, something in the range of No. 33-42 overall. San Francisco has the 43rd overall choice.
This week, FS1 host Colin Cowherd gave his opinion on Lombardi’s comments on Darnold. Cowherd often expressed that Darnold would be a good fit for Shanahan’s offense.
“If Jimmy Garoppolo had no injuries, they wouldn’t walk away from him,” said Cowherd in The herd (h / t for Patrick Tulini) “He showed that he is good enough to reach the Super Bowl. He is a talent of quarterback B who, for a year, when he was healthy, played as an A-less quarterback under Shanahan.
“Well, Darnold, if you ask any scout, he’s more athletic than Jimmy Garoppolo. He has better raw tools. He’s a little bigger, more robust, more athletic, better arm than Garoppolo. So if Garoppolo can get there to the Super Bowl, why can’t Darnold? “
It is important to note that there have been no official reports that the 49ers are looking to “move” from Garoppolo and that nothing has so far been speculation. Yes, San Francisco asked about Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz. However, the team reportedly never made offers to either of them, and their interest in the first was described as “lukewarm”.
There is another quarterback that Lombardi thinks San Francisco would be even more interested in acquiring than Darnold. Of course, this creates a difficult situation. It means that making a potential move for Darnold may nullify the team’s chances of an even better option – Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans.
“Would San Francisco like Watson? Yes, ”adds Lombardi. “Would they want Watson instead of Darnold? Again, yes. Would they regret negotiating for Darnold if two days later they learned that Houston is accepting offers for Watson? Another big yes.”
For the time being, the 49ers seem content to move on with Garoppolo. However, some remain convinced that Lynch and Shanahan are keeping other defenders on their radar – just in case.
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