Joe Nicholson-USA Sports TODAY
Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi, now an associate at The Athletic, disagrees with John Lynch’s recent statement that the San Francisco 49ers are satisfied heading into the 2021 season with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. If they were, he doesn’t feel like the team would call the league to inquire about anyone who may be available. Most assume Lynch is doing its due diligence as a free agency and design is fast approaching.
“They are too active, too aggressive to turn it back another year with someone they don’t have full confidence in,” Lombardi wrote this week.
Lombardi also doesn’t buy in that head coach Kyle Shanahan is interested in Teddy Bridgewater and doubts the 49ers who inquired about the Carolina Panthers quarterback. That report came from Lombardi’s colleague at The Athletic, Joe Person.
“49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was never a big fan of Bridgewater during his time in Cleveland when Bridgewater was available in the draft,” explains Lombardi. “Shanahan is quite specific in what he wants for his offense from the quarterback position, and those qualifications don’t fit the Bridgewater game.”
Lombardi was the general manager of the Cleveland Browns during Shanahan’s one season (2014) as the offensive coordinator there, which was also the year Bridgewater entered the league.
Lombardi is convinced that Shanahan is interested in adding a quarterback, but not just any quarterback. The writer mentions two possible options that could convince the head coach to leave Garoppolo.
The first is Sam Darnold of the New York Jets.
“Why? Because Darnold fits the profile that Shanahan likes on the position: athletic, can move left or right, and has the arm strength to make the defense defend every blade of grass on the field,” Lombardi wrote. “The 49ers were able to take him over with a second round and then trade Jimmy G.”
Lombardi notes that the Jets are looking for a high second-round pick for Darnold, something in the # 33-42 range overall. San Francisco owns the general pick of number 43.
This week, FS1 presenter Colin Cowherd weighed in on Lombardi’s comments about Darnold. Cowherd has often said that Darnold would be a good fit for Shanahan’s transgression.
‘If Jimmy Garoppolo had no injuries at all, they wouldn’t leave him,’ Cowherd continued The herd (h / t to Patrick Tulini“He’s shown he’s good enough to make it to the Super Bowl. He’s a B-quarterback talent who played as an A-minus quarterback under Shanahan for a year when he was healthy.
“Well, Darnold, if you ask a scout, he’s more athletic than Jimmy Garoppolo. He has better rough tools. He’s a bit taller, huskier, more athletic, a better arm than Garoppolo. So if Garoppolo can get to a Super Bowl, why can’t Darnold? “
It is worth noting that there are no official reports that Garoppolo’s 49ers want to “leave” and that so far everything has been speculation. Yes, San Francisco inquired about Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz. However, the team reportedly never made an offer for either, and their interest in the former has been described as “lukewarm”.
There’s another quarterback Lombardi thinks San Francisco would be even more interested in acquiring than Darnold. That of course makes for a difficult situation. It means that making a potential bet for Darnold could narrow the team’s chances of an even better option – Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans.
“Would San Francisco want Watson? Yes,” adds Lombardi. “Would they like Watson over Darnold? Again, yes. Would they regret acting for Darnold when they learn two days later that Houston is accepting offers for Watson? Another big yes. ‘
For now, the 49ers seem happy to continue with Garoppolo. However, some remain convinced that Lynch and Shanahan keep other quarterbacks on their radar – just in case.
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