By Tyler Glessner
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-7 in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 18, but feelings were somber as the 49ers saw their franchise quarterback leave injured.
With just over two minutes to go in the first quarter, Trey Lance would take a shotgun snap for a quarterback-designed run. That snap will be the last he takes this season, as he is at the bottom of the pile due to a broken ankle. The 49ers announced after the game that the injury will require season-ending surgery.
Football veteran Jimmy Garoppolo took the reins. He boasts a 31-14 record as the starter for the 49ers in his career. With two NFC championship appearances and a Super Bowl appearance, there was no concern with this transition for many NFL fans.
This offseason was an interesting one for the franchise. Back in the 2021 NFL draft, the 49ers would select Lance third overall after falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game. It was evident what the front office was looking to do: get younger, cheaper, and more athletic players as quarterbacks. With Lance expected to be the starter this season as a two-year pro, the 49ers wanted to trade Garoppolo, but were unable to find any suitors to take on his $24 million base salary.
The 49ers would rework Garoppolo’s contract to a one-year $6.5 million deal that could see him earn up to $15.45 million. Two important notes for this deal are Garoppolo’s no-trade and no-tag clause. This means that the 49ers cannot trade Garoppolo without his permission, and at the end of the year he has the freedom to explore all options in free agency.
If Garoppolo plays well this year, he could collect serious money-loaded deals in free agency. Could the 49ers give Garoppolo another big deal after re-working his last? It is not optimal as they have invested in a high draft pick: Trey Lance. The problem with Lance is the small sample size we have been able to see, and even then, that sample size has left a lot to be desired.
If the 49ers let Garoppolo walk, they are taking a significant risk in an unproven quarterback coming off serious ankle surgery. For Lance, this proves worse than most cases because his playing style is mobile. On the other hand, if they play Garoppolo and keep the 1A/1B quarterback battle in training camp, it will continue to hinder Lance’s development. In Sunday’s Seattle game, we saw a significant shift in play-calling with the 49ers using a more balanced run and pass attack with Garoppolo, versus a run-heavy offense they have used with Lance. It is to be of note that Lance’s rookie deal is set to expire soon.
The 49ers are in a spot most General Managers will never have to worry about. This season will prove costly for years to come.
