We don’t hear much about Jimmy Garoppolo from the 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan last media update in late December. At the time, Shanahan said he believed Jimmy G would be his quarterback next year, but warned that “you can’t say anything for sure. ” 
Since then, many people have treated this as a foregone conclusion that San Francisco is looking for an update, but that is not necessarily the case. The 49ers “still like” Garoppolo and “believe they can win with him,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was informed, via Tyler Conway of the Bleacher Report. Garoppolo is the likely 2021 title holder for the time being and Fowler reported that “he would deal a big blow, as a Deshaun Watson effect here, to make that change. In other words, it looks like 49ers are going to be a big hit or stay with Garoppolo for another year.
This would apparently exclude any intermediate-level veteran or young people available as Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, and that bunch. San Francisco supposedly sniffed Matthew Stafford, but it doesn’t seem like they ever came close to wanting to shell out what the Rams did. Speaking of Watson, we heard a few days ago from Fowler that the Texas quarterback was interested in playing for Shanahan, and he reiterated that Sunday.
Although it sounds like Shanahan and GM John Lynch are not going to settle for an uninspiring trade or free agent subscription, it is interesting to imagine if calling a passer in the first round could still be on your agenda as a “big swing”. The 49ers will choose 12th place in April.
Fowler seems to think that Garoppolo is in good shape to keep his job, but as we all know, a lot can happen between now and recruitment.
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