49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trent Taylor relationship one to watch in 2020

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will look to rekindle his 2017 relationship with wide receiver Trent Taylor in 2020, and it’s a storyline to watch this offseason.

While San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was a big reason why the Niners finished 2017 on a five-game win streak, leading to a massive hype heading into 2018, one could make the argument then-rookie wide receiver Trent Taylor was just as big a factor.

Both players endured some serious injuries in 2018, however, as Garoppolo tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, while Taylor dealt with a back injury for much of his second pro year.

In 2019, the two were expected to reconnect, sparking their one-time exciting relationship on the field. But Taylor suffered a foot fracture during training camp, which ultimately landed him on injured reserve while the NIners struggled early to find reliable receiving threats before developing the rookie, Deebo Samuel, and then trading for veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders.

Sanders is poised to hit the free-agent market now, potentially leaving another pass-catching void on San Francisco’s 2020 roster.

It’s a void Taylor will look to fill.

There’s little doubt Taylor and Garoppolo hit it off when the latter was acquired by the 49ers from the New England Patriots back in 2017. Over those final five games that season, Taylor amassed 17 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown, just under half of his 43-catch, 430-yard rookie campaign.

Those numbers alone don’t sound like much aside from the fact Taylor recorded 19 third-down receptions for a first down, which ranked ninth best among all pass catchers that year and was tied for most among rookies.

Garoppolo, meanwhile, was absolute money on third downs last season, posting an impressive 101.9 passer rating in this crucial spot.

There’s also good enough data to suggest Garoppolo will thrive throwing to Taylor again in 2020. According to Pro Football Focus, Garoppolo posted the following per-game passer ratings when targeting Taylor over those final five games in 2017:

• Week 13 @ Chicago Bears: 118.8
• Week 14 @ Houston Texans: 33.3
• Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans: 100.0
• Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 124.0
• Week 17 @ Los Angeles Rams: 118.8

In four of five games down the stretch that year, Garoppolo managed passer ratings of 100 or better when Taylor was the target.

Taylor was also having a tremendous training camp in 2019 before suffering his foot injury, suggesting both he and Garoppolo would have continued what looked to be a promising rapport.

Granted, Taylor has to show he’s fully recovered from last year’s injury, but early signs point to him being ready for training camp. And while the 49ers will likely look to add another wide receiver this offseason, a budding receiving corps in San Francisco should ultimately help Taylor even more, as he might often be looked as the third-best receiving target behind Samuel and tight end George Kittle.

That could be the read Garoppolo goes to the most, especially in those crucial third-down situations.

Both Taylor and Garoppolo have excellent histories on that crucial down. And if those efforts improve in 2020, one figures these two players’ relationship with each other will be one to watch between now and Week 1.