Why the 49ers have the best of both worlds at quarterback
Anyone who has followed the career of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo knows full well that he’s not one to stir the pot.
As quiet as they come off the field, Garoppolo just rolls with the punches and keeps going.
That’s why it’s not a surprise the Super Bowl signal caller didn’t request a trade or speak out publicly after San Francisco traded up to the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for a quarterback. Once it was confirmed said selection ended up being North Dakota State star Trey Lance, Garoppolo even became the first person to text the talented 20-year-old quarterback a congratulations.
Now that the 2021 NFL Draft and the 49ers’ related drama that came with it is in the rear-view mirror, Garoppolo is set to act as a mentor to Lance.
“I try to use my own personal experiences and just what I went through, what helped me, what challenged me as a young player. I’m going to use those tools that helped me and try to help Trey out,” Garoppolo said recently. “It’s hard to come into this league; I know how it was coming from an FCS school to the NFL. It’s a bit of an adjustment, the speed, whatever you want to call it, it’s just different. So, whatever I can do to help him, I’ll be more than happy.”
Garoppolo acting as a mentor runs contrary to what we’ve seen from the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady in the past. Most recently, Rodgers has requested a trade from the Packers a calendar year after they traded up for Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft. This also puts the 49ers in a great situation moving forward — one that is pretty rare around the football world.
