Mortensen: “Most league insiders believe the 49ers will move on from Jimmy G”

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said the following on Sunday NFL Countdown Sunday morning:

“Garoppolo’s injuries certainly complicate the picture. Kyle Shannahan, the coach said, he believes Garoppolo will be the quarterback in 2021, but he says he can’t say it with certainty. Most league insiders believe if there’s a better option, the 49ers will have somebody other than Garoppolo at the start of next season.”

This isn’t news, as Shanahan said as much earlier in the week. As we get into the offseason, the rumors are going to be flying all over. From trading Garoppolo to releasing him to keeping him on the roster, we’re going to hear it all regarding what the Niners will do. Shanahan hasn’t pulled any punches and has given hints publicly about how he feels about Jimmy. Kyle’s also done a great job at parsing his words.

Instantly, fans discredited this idea, saying, “it’s true for every team and every position,” but every team hasn’t suffered injuries like the 49ers. You’re kidding yourselves if you think Shanahan hasn’t been frustrated with Garoppolo’s inability to stay on the field. Going into another season and expecting different results doesn’t seem like the best process.

The injuries will be the biggest factor. When Jimmy has played, the 49ers have won. Garoppolo has a 22-8 record with the 49ers as their starter. He’s also missed two seasons due to injury. The question always comes back to “if there’s a better option.” After seeing Justin Fields come back from an injury in the college football playoff on Friday, the No. 2 overall pick just got pricier if you were hoping to trade up for a quarterback.

Zach Wilson from BYU will likely fall in the draft, but he has an injury history, too. If you’re wanting a guy like Trey Lance from North Dakota State, many feel like Lance would have to sit a year. That’s not an option for the Niners. There’s Matt Stafford as a trade candidate, and I’m sure a couple of other quarterbacks that we’re not mentioning.

So, who is a better option?