All-Pro TE George Kittle wants Jimmy Garoppolo as 49ers QB

Late in 2020, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle campaigned for Jimmy Garoppolo to remain the club's starting quarterback through at least the beginning of the 2021 regular season. That, however, was before the 49ers traded to acquire the third overall pick of the upcoming NFL Draft. 

While NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah reports that "the majority of people around the league" believe San Francisco wants to use its new asset to land Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones, Kittle remained loyal to his current signal-caller when speaking on a recent edition of "10 Questions with Kyle Brandt."

"I trust in (coach Kyle Shanahan) and (general manager John Lynch)," Kittle said, per Nick Shook of the NFL's website. "They're trying to do whatever they can to make the team better, so whether that's competition, it is what it is. I don't really have a say in it. I'm just gonna show up. I'm gonna try to do my job to the best of my ability and support whoever's on my team.

"I get it, it's a competitive sport and you're competing for jobs every single day. You know, I want Jimmy G to be my quarterback. That's what camp and OTAs and competition's for. Whatever they do, I can't wait to see what the team looks like in a couple weeks." 

The 49ers allegedly have no plans to trade Garoppolo as of the final Monday of March and could have Jimmy G mentor a rookie and even start as that first-year pro learns from the sidelines. In mock drafts updated after San Francisco's headline-generating trade, Ryan Wilson and Josh Edwards of CBS Sports both have the 49ers selecting quarterbacks with the third pick, as does Walter Cherepinsky of Walter Football.