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The 49ers are at least watching Tom Brady this past season. Speculation was that they would have a wandering eye again this off-season.
But John Lynch, general manager, was as determined as he was about the team’s starting quarterback for 2021.
Lynch joined Clark Judge and Ira Kaufman on the podcast The Eye Test for Two and said he had no doubt Jimmy Garoppolo would return as the team’s starter.
It has a caveat: ‘If Garoppolo stays injury free’, something he has not been able to do in two of the last three seasons.
Lynch asked, “If you’re injury free, do you have any doubts that Jimmy Garoppolo will be your quarterback when you perform in September?”
Lynch did not hesitate: “No. Not at all. I really believe that. ”
The 49ers are 24-9, including the post-season, in games Garoppolo has started since arriving in a trade with the Patriots. They are 7-19 over the same period as he is not.
However, Garoppolo has missed 23 games with injuries over the past three seasons. He only played six in 2020 due to high ankle sprains.
But Lynch sounds like the 49ers want to upgrade the rugby quarterback rather than find a starting quarterback to compete with or to replace Garoppolo.
“Being available is a big part of this thing,” Lynch admitted. ‘So we probably need to better isolate ourselves as a stated goal. We should have better options if he is not there.
‘I saw people go through it in their careers where they struggled early on. It happened to me early, and then I went eight years without missing an exercise. So I believe that things can happen, and I believe that it will be for him. I really believe Jimmy is our man. ”
CJ Beathard is an unlimited free agent and Nick Mullens is a limited free agent.
Having a healthy Garoppolo, however, is key if the 49ers really commit to him another year. The only season Garoppolo has played 16 games in 2019, the 49ers drew 13-3 and made a Super Bowl appearance, although his performance in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs cost the team a title.
“When he was healthy, he played at a high level,” Lynch said. “But we probably need to add someone. We probably need to improve ourselves, so if he’s not there, we’ll be fine; we can win games.
“We’re looking forward to starting our team kind of again and making a comeback next year. And I believe we have everything needed to compete for a championship. ”