NFL broadcaster Cris Collinsworth has made a bold claim about Jimmy Garoppolo and his place within the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s fair to say that Jimmy Garoppolo is in a very peculiar place when it comes to his spot within the San Francisco 49ers organisation. 

Despite giving up a 2nd round in order to bring him on board from the New England Patriots back in 2017, the drafting of Trey Lance with the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 draft meant that there was in essence a timebomb ticking on his tenure with the 49ers. 

His inability to remain totally healthy, missing large parts of both the 2018 and 2020 seasons may have played a big part in their decision to draft a quarterback so high in the draft, even going so far as to trade up in order to get him, sacrificing capital in this year’s and next year’s draft in the process. 

And with Lance having started two games last year, now moving into his second year with the organisation, it isn’t impossible to think that now might be the time for the 49ers to go all the way and make Lance the starter, leaving Garoppolo to back up like he did to Tom Brady in New England.

Chances not over yet?

However, according to Collinsworth, who was speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, he doesn’t think it’s a certainty that the 49ers are ready to move on from the 30-year-old just yet, stating his belief that Garoppolo could remain the starter moving forward:

What does that mean for the 49ers?

Allowing Garoppolo to start for the 49ers would certainly add an interesting dynamic to proceedings. Is it very much the ‘last chance saloon’ for Garoppolo to prove himself to the organisation?

If he struggles, then it’s pretty obvious what the next step is, put Lance into the fold and look to the future. But what happens if Garoppolo is able to perform well for them? Do they simply kick Lance into the long grass? And if so does that mean they essentially wasted picks on him when they could have used them to make an immediate impact on the team?

It certainly will be an interesting few months ahead for the 49ers as they decide what to do.