49ers' keeping Jimmy Garoppolo deemed 'bold, outside-the-box' move

There continue to be subtle-yet-interesting teases suggesting the San Francisco 49ers could hold onto veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for another season even though 2021 rookie Trey Lance presumably is ready to become the team's new QB1 this spring. 

A report last month claimed trade interest in Garoppolo was "lukewarm" at "best" coming off his postseason performances that featured him playing through a torn ligament and a chipped bone in his right (throwing) thumb. It was later said trade talks regarding the 30-year-old were "likely to get serious when all the teams gather in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine," but that was before general manager John Lynch announced Garoppolo needs surgery to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder that could keep him from completing throwing exercises until July. 

ESPN's Football Outsiders have become the latest individuals to hint the 49ers could keep Garoppolo through at least the preseason in what was deemed a "bold, outside-the-box" move.

"The trade market could be lukewarm for Garoppolo — ESPN's Luke Wagoner is among those observers saying it could be as low as a Day 3 pick," they noted. "If that's the case, why not keep the veteran and see if he can hold off the rookie once more?" 

They continued: "And it's not as if (the 49ers) are rebuilding. This is a team that won two playoff games last season and is looking to win more now. If anything, keeping Garoppolo might be conservative -- putting this franchise in the hands of a passer who is still younger than most of the quarterbacks in this year's draft class might be the bolder risk." 

Lynch said Garoppolo initially suffered the shoulder setback during the wild-card playoff win at the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 16, weeks after he hurt his thumb before Christmas. If Lance wasn't the better option for subsequent postseason contests against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, it's possible he still won't be by Week 1 this coming September.