Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 most important players in 2018

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo

Well, you knew it was coming. I mean, who else could it be?

Jimmy Garoppolo is now this team’s franchise quarterback, and he is the single deciding X-factor of how this team will fare in the 2018 season.

When Garoppolo entered the starting lineup late last season, the team was stuck at a level below mediocrity. Their mentality was down, fitting the losing culture that had been associated with the 49ers for the past three years.

More from Niner Noise

However, Garoppolo playing changed all of that. After starting the season 1-10, the team won five straight games with Garoppolo at the helm. It wasn’t just his talent that brought them those wins, but it was his leadership and presence that led the team to earn the wins.

Garoppolo made every single teammate around him play better. That’s a fact. Fans didn’t just see a quarterback change in the lineup, they saw a mentality change in the lineup.

So no, Garoppolo’s five-year, $137.5 million contract is not a bad deal for the 49ers in any way. There is no reason to doubt that contract.

Next: Why the 49ers should sign Malcolm Butler

Every fan has the right to be unreasonably excited for the 2018 season. With Jimmy GQ, Gucci Garrop, Jimbo Slice, whatever you want to call him, playing a full season of football, anything, including a Super Bowl win, is entirely possible.