The San Francisco 49ers were only a drive away from another Super Bowl berth against the Rams in the NFC title game. One drive away from getting the chance to redeem their disappointing 2018/19 Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Yet, just like what happened in the 2019 Super Bowl, their QB problem cost them once again. And this problem is looking like it will plague their upcoming season too.
The great Jimmy Garoppolo debate is still raging. The once presumed successor to Tom Brady in New England has long been the unconvincing starter for the 49ers these the past six years since his trade from the Patriots. Garoppolo’s time in the Bay Area has been mired by injuries and poor on-field performances.
However, the 49ers have seen their greatest success since the early Jim Harbaugh days with Garoppolo under center. It is really one of the strangest NFL phenomena in the league today. The 49ers have been extremely successful with one of the statically worst quarterbacks in the league. It really does break all modern precedent of needing a franchise QB to win consistently.
Still, the 49ers have yet to win their long-coveted 6th Super Bowl, which would be their first since Steve Young was slinging left-arm passes down field to Jerry Rice against the Los Angeles (San Diego back then) Chargers in Super Bowl 39.
Despite Jimmy Garoppolo’s team success, his poor play cannot be tolerated for any serious contending team. The 49ers can only rely on their superb run game, great defense, and Deebo Samuel’s heroics (if he’s not traded) for so long. They need a competent QB if they want to win a Super Bowl before this team breaks apart.
And the 49ers knew this, so that was why they drafted Trey Lance 3rd overall in last year’s NFL draft. The only problem is, well, he may not be developing fast enough.
How do I know this? Well, I don’t. I’m only speculating, though from the lack of movement on the Jimmy Garoppolo trade front, I’d suspect that Trey Lance is just not ready yet to be the 49ers starter.
I’m not trying to insinuate that Trey Lance is a bust or that he’s never going to live up to his draft potential. Instead, I actually think he will be a really good QB in the NFL, as I think his development will be very similar to Josh Allen’s career path so far.
The only issue is that it took Allen three years to become one of the best QBs in the NFL, and I don’t think the 49ers and their players have the patience of waiting another two years.
Deebo Samuel has already requested to be traded and Deforest Buckner had to be traded to the Colts two years ago because his salary was not going to fit under the 49ers cap. With Nick Bosa, Deebo Sameul (if he’s still there), Dee Ford, Jimmie Ward, Mike McGlinchey, and Jimmy Garoppolo himself (if he’s still around) all out of a contract within the next two years, the time for the 49ers to win a Super Bowl is now.
Trey Lance should be the 49ers starter next year, though that may be asking too much from the 2nd year player. The 49ers cannot rush Lance into their lineup or risk him becoming overwhelmed and underdeveloped.
Nevertheless, if Trey Lance is not ready yet, then the 49ers may have to turn back to Garoppolo for one more year. And that is all but guaranteeing another year of objective failure with their Super Bowl expectations.
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