For better or for worse, the 49ers have been making headlines throughout the NFL. …
It’s mainly because star wideout Deebo Samuel has been the focal point of trade rumors over the past week and if he’s traded the move would send shockwaves around the NFL.To date, Samuel has not directly dispelled the ongoing trade rumors. Shortly after the news broke Samuel posted on Twitter.
“To real to entertain half the stuff y'all be saying but it do be funny though….. everybody want they voice to be heard about a situation they know nothing about and just be saying whatever the next person say…. Have a blessed day”
A cryptic message to say the least.
Like Samuel, General Manager John Lynch has also been non-committal and refused to address the situation in a clear manner by not confirming nor denying Samuel has formally requested a trade from the 49ers.
With that said, the 49ers have a lot of big questions to answer this offseason, especially during the NFL Draft which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 28th in Las Vegas, NV. While the 49ers’ offseason may start with Deebo Samuel and it arguably ends with the quarterback position. Which is somewhat of an anomaly for a team that is fresh off of a deep postseason run and arguably has been quite successful ever since General Manager John Lynch took over with head coach Kyle Shanahan.
What will the 49ers do with Jimmy Garoppolo?
On paper, you may think that the 49ers are set at the quarterback position. They have a solid veteran in Jimmy Garoppolo who led them to the NFL Championship game last season. However, let’s not forget that last year’s season wasn’t always smooth sailing for Jimmy G due to injuries and inconsistent play.
Furthermore, to complicate things even further, the 49ers spent valuable draft capital in 2021 drafting QB Trey Lance at #3 overall. Lance has yet to prove himself in the NFL having only started two games (1-1) and playing in six. But, he’s shown flashes of what he is capable of doing, throwing and running the football.
Simply put, one of the underlying stories for the 49ers during the 2022 offseason and draft weekend is — what will they do at the quarterback spot?
There are rumors swirling that the 49ers will look to trade Jimmy G and go all-in on Trey Lance. One team that is in the mix for Jimmy G is the Carolina Panthers— who may not be 100% sold on Sam Darnold. Alternatively, the Panthers could opt to draft a quarterback as they posses the number six overall pick in the 2022 Draft, which would certainly lleave the 49ers with fewer options. Nevertheless, it’s not entirely clear what the 49ers will do with Jimmy Garoppolo but the buzz is right now a trade is likely going to happen it’s just a matter of what can the 49ers get in return.
Will the 49ers Draft a Quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft?
If the 49ers do in fact look to trade Jimmy Garoppolo they will turn the keys over to Trey Lance. However, the team will likely need to fill out the quarterback room with one to two solid backups. Which begs the question — will the 49ers draft a quarterback to backup Lance?
We haven’t seen many mock drafts out there with quarterbacks being taken on the 49ers’ draft board. Nonetheless, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. The quarterback position is absolutely critical and a team’s success essentially hinges on the play of the quarterback. And in recent years, we’ve seen investing in a good backup quarterback pays off.
For example, the Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl with their backup, Nick Foles, and later drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round to backup their former first round pick Carson Wentz. Fast forward to today, Wentz has been traded twice and Jalen Hurts is gearing up for his third full year with the Eagles and his second season as a starter.
Despite the current state of affairs in San Francisco, the team still contains a solid foundation and can easily recapture the magic it had during the 2021 season.
Sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel currently have the 49ers at +1400 to win the Super Bowl next season — which is sixth best behind the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Buffalo Bills. Note, that DraftKings California is forthcoming and the above odds are not available in California.