NFL writer predicts Jimmy Garoppolo will be on 49ers roster at start of season

The San Francisco 49ers were openly looking to trade Jimmy Garoppolo at the start of the offseason, but no real market has developed for the veteran after he underwent shoulder surgery. While they still may release Garoppolo, there is a noteworthy reason they are in no rush.

Peter King of The MMQB predicted in his weekly column that Garoppolo will remain on San Francisco’s roster through the start of the 2022 season. He still believes Trey Lance will start in Week 1, but King feels that Lance’s development — or lack thereof — is the reason Garoppolo has not been released.

“If Lance had shown all the signs Shanahan needed to see by now, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. The Niners would have granted Garoppolo his freedom if they couldn’t trade him,” King wrote.

Other NFL insiders view the situation differently. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on Monday that the Niners still plan to trade Garoppolo and are willing to be “flexible to find the best situation” for him.

That meshes with recent rumblings that the 49ers are waiting for Garoppolo to be fully cleared from his shoulder rehab, which should be in a month or two. If they are unable to find a trade suitor for him then, it is possible they will grant him his release.

Lance is a raw prospect. He had limited experience at the college level, but the 49ers knew that when they traded up to draft him last year. They still believe he is going to be a franchise quarterback, but some of the reports about his development have been concerning. No one would be shocked if they keep Garoppolo around for at least the start of next season to see how things go.