Golden Nuggets: Sorting Through the Roster Moves

Good morning folks, it’s a hectic time to be a fan with all of the recent hustle and bustle surrounding the trade deadline. Tonight, we’ve got the first game since the deadline, a match-up between the surprisingly good Buffalo Bills and a New York Jets team that was supposed to compete with us & the Cleveland Browns for the dubious honor of the first overall pick. Interestingly enough, both teams have a shiny new player brought in from trades - WR Kelvin Benjamin for the Bills (from the Carolina Panthers), and CB Rashard Robinson for the Jets (from us). I doubt either gets extensive play time, but seeing a starter in a new uniform mid-season is worth paying attention to.

The 49ers media has been largely focused on the QB position, following the blockbuster trade with the New England Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo. The short-term perception is that C.J. Beathard will remain the starter - at least through the next two weeks. However, there has been a significant amount of scrutiny on Garoppolo trade; the 49ers new QB is set to be a free agent after this season, and there exists some urgency in evaluating Jimmy’s fit with Kyle Shanahan’s offense. For what it’s worth, the Garoppolo trade has been praised by several notable figures outside of the 49ers organization, including Bruce Arians, Steve Young, and Scot McCloughan. If I had to guess, I’d fall in line with the common belief that Garoppolo will be put in a position to start on November 26th, a home game against the Seattle Seahawks following the 49ers’ BYE week.

While I was personally surprised by the Robinson trade, I’ve come around to understand it. Between his dwindling play time, infuriatingly consistent penalties, and the coaches’ faith in Ahkello Witherspoon, it makes sense to get some value for the young man while there was still value to be had. The team made a corresponding move by promoting CB Greg Mabin from the practice squad to fill the spot vacated by Robinson, and signing DB Tyvis Powell to fill Mabin’s spot on the practice squad. Furthermore, the injuries along the offensive line have compounded over the last two weeks, and the team signed journeyman OL Bryce Harper (likely as depth) while Joe Staley and, tentatively, Trent Brown remain banged up. As the week progresses, we’ll have a better idea of what kind of LOLine the 49ers quarterbacks will be playing with against Arizona.

On to the good stuff-

C.J. Beathard: Forgotten starter | Branch, SF Gate

Kyle Shanahan: No rush to start Jimmy Garoppolo | Branch, SF Gate | Maiocco, CSN Bay Area

Garoppolo trade opens up 2018 draft options | Branch, SF Gate

Signing Garoppolo will be first test for Shanahan & John Lynch | Kurtenbach, Mercury | Maiocco, CSN Bay Area | Barrows, Sac Bee | Wagoner, ESPN | Biderman, Ninerswire

Bruce Arians: Garoppolo perfect fit for Shanahan | Inman, Mercury

How fast can Garoppolo pick up the playbook? | Inman, Mercury | Lynch, KNBR | Barrows, Sac Bee

Steve Young has cautious optimism for Garoppolo | Mano, Mercury | KNBR Staff

Scot McCloughan signs off on Garoppolo trade | Barrows, Sac Bee

Belief in Ahkello Witherspoon, penalties led to Rashard Robinson trade | Wagoner, ESPN | Biderman, Ninerswire

Garoppolo expected to be active on Sunday | Biderman, Ninerswire