The NFL’s model of March Insanity noticed one other quarterback fill a bracket Wednesday, all whereas Jimmy Garoppolo’s future stays on the proverbial bubble.
The Washington Commanders took Carson Wentz off the Indianapolis Colts’ palms, and whereas one door closes as a possible touchdown spot, the Colts seem to be an excellent commerce associate for the 49ers and Garoppolo.
Pair a savvy, veteran chief with a stud working again? That will work for the Indianapolo Colts and Jonathan Taylor, as it will with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Najee Harris.
The Colts picked up a pair of third-rounders for Wentz, fairness they may flip for Garoppolo, presuming they’re not scared off by his shoulder surgical procedure Tuesday.
What's the closing barometer to set Garoppolo’s closing market worth? Perhaps it’s Deshaun Watson’s authorized image, which might crystalize Friday amid grand jury proceedings for the one-time Houston Texans star. Watson, if cleared, appears extra destined for Seattle or Carolina, leaving the AFC market to Garoppolo.
Sufficient groups nonetheless want a quarterback that one will leap the road, out of sheer separation or true affection.
Garoppolo’s shoulder surgical procedure Tuesday reportedly went as anticipated to restore a torn capsule and get him throwing earlier than camp in late July. His brokers didn't return messages in search of updates (and forecasts).
Let’s say his rehabilitation stalls any commerce and the 49ers don’t minimize him by Wednesday’s begin of the brand new league yr. Maybe the start-up date for brand spanking new talks could be the draft on the finish of April. Maybe it’ll be August, particularly if a starter will get damage elsewhere, and, positively, earlier than Week 1, when his $24 million wage turns into assured.
Nonetheless, his companies are in demand now, particularly with these quarterback-desperate golf equipment: the Colts, Steelers, Saints, Texans, Bucs and Panthers. The Steelers, by the way in which, are nonetheless looking for a common supervisor to succeed Kevin Colbert, which appears kinda noteworthy in the event that they’re additionally QB looking.
LANCE HARD AT WORK
Figuring out six miles inland from the Huntington Seashore pier is the 49ers’ future: Trey Lance.
Whereas different NFL groups jostle for quarterbacks in a depleted market and unspectacular draft pool, the 49ers’ model of March Insanity got here final yr, after they traded as much as the No. 3 spot.
Their draft fairness – first-round picks in 2021-23, plus a third-rounder – went into that commerce with the Miami Dolphins, they usually got here away with a uncooked, dual-threat dynamo.
Now, as was the case earlier than final yr’s draft, Lance is in Orange County, working at 3DQB below the tutelage of John Beck, Tom Home and Adam Dedeaux.
That follows the plan as prescribed by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan after Lance’s rookie yr, which consisted of studying behind the scenes and on the observe subject behind (outgoing) starter Jimmy Garoppolo.
Understanding Lance was heading again to 3DQB, Shanahan stated Feb. 1 he wished him “throwing the ball, to isolate on that, simply his throwing movement, engaged on that on a regular basis, which I’d say 80 % of the quarterbacks on this league do this.”
The offseason between an NFL participant’s first and second yr is crucial to improvement – see: George Kittle’s 2018 breakthrough – and Lance is utilizing this time to properly ramp up towards the 49ers’ offseason program that opens April 18.
“It’ll be actual good for Trey to type of get away from us and simply give attention to these issues,” Shanahan added in that end-of-season press convention Feb. 1. “We’ll be in contact by way of the entire thing and we’ll get him again right here and begin speaking X’s and O’s and scheme and footwork, simply getting ready him, hopefully, to have a superb part one, two and three of OTAs.”
ARCH ENEMY NO. 1?
Which particular person opponent stands because the 49ers’ best risk between them and success, now that Seattle is exporting Russell Wilson to Denver?
Is it Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who hasn’t dominated the NFC West rivalry however did stress Garoppolo into an interception on doubtless his closing 49ers move to seal the NFC Championship Sport? Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was 1-5 vs. the 49ers earlier than successful that NFC title sport. Cardinals counterpart Kyler Murray is 2-3 towards the 49ers, and his important rivalry seems to be contract talks.
Wilson by no means handed for 300 yards towards the 49ers, and it wasn’t obligatory throughout his decade-long torment with the Seattle Seahawks.
He went 16-4 in regular-season motion towards them (plus a win within the NFC Championship Sport after the 2013 season). Thoughts you, the 49ers had 4 playoff seasons up to now 10 years, so that they weren’t whole patsies.
Wilson’s Seattle exodus was termed “an inevitable conclusion” by veteran cornerback Richard Sherman on his podcast Tuesday.
QB OWNERSHIP
Wilson’s reign was paying homage to the 49ers’ struggling towards Brett Favre (8-1 common season, 4-1 playoffs), with a nod to Kurt Warner’s excellence (10-4) from 1999-2009 when the 49ers had simply two playoff groups.
Wilson’s solely Tremendous Bowl-winning season got here after he produced a fourth-quarter comeback towards the 49ers within the NFC Championship Sport. Wilson misplaced a fumble on that sport’s opening snap (courtesy of an Alden Smith sack), however, get this, Wilson by no means misplaced any of his 11 fumbles in regular-season motion towards the 49ers’ pesky move rush.
With regards to quarterbacks dominating a division rival like Wilson did vs. the 49ers, have a look at these possession stakes:
–Tom Brady: 33-3 vs. the Payments, 30-7 vs. the Jets
— Ben Roethlisberger: 26-2-1 vs. the Browns
— Aaron Rodgers: 22-5 vs. the Bears; 18-6 vs. the Lions
— Peyton Manning: 17-3 vs. the Texans, 15-5 vs. the Jaguars, 14-5 vs. the Titans, 12-2 vs. the Chiefs
— And don’t neglect the 49ers’ Steve Younger, who went 15-2 towards the Rams. He additionally excelled towards the Saints (16-4), as did predecessor Joe Montana (16-5).
TIGHT END OUTLOOK
Whereas the 49ers didn't use the franchise tag to guard any of their free brokers, it’s noteworthy that three groups tagged tight ends – David Njoku (Browns), Dalton Schultz (Cowboys) and Mike Gesicki (Dolphins). These include a $10.9 million wage for 2022.
The 49ers averted having to tag George Kittle — the league’s high tight finish when wholesome – by rewarding him with a market-setting extension two years in the past, when he grew to become eligible for that five-year, $75 million deal. Kittle’s wage jumps from $1.25 million to $11.45 million this yr, so maybe they may convert some right into a signing bonus for cap room.
The 49ers might use that house to pursue a greater complement to Kittle within the tight finish room. Pending free brokers are Zach Ertz (Cardinals), Robert Tonyan (Packers), Eric Ebron (Steelers), C.J. Uzomah (Bengals), Kyle Rudolph (Giants), Rob Gronkowski (Bucs), Jared Cook dinner (Chargers), Evan Engram (Giants) and Mo Alie-Cox (Colts).
MORE MONEY MATTERS
This offseason’s largest monetary priorities once more contain extensions, and people are looming for extensive receiver Deebo Samuel and defensive finish Nick Bosa, who ought to command over $20 million and $30 million, respectively.
Samuel is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal, and, if no extension is hammered out, subsequent yr’s franchise tag for extensive receiver figures to be round $19 million. The 49ers can train Bosa’s fifth-year choice for 2023 if these talks stall, regardless of common supervisor John Lynch’s insistence final week that “these guys are going to be 49ers. They’re foundational to what we do on the sector.”
Come Monday, the 49ers have over 20 gamers slated to check free company, together with a bevy of starters: defensive deal with D.J. Jones, guard Laken Tomlinson, security Jaquiski Tartt, working again Raheem Mostert, and cornerbacks Okay’Waun Williams, Jason Verrett and Josh Norman.