49ers Who Is?’ series: Jimmy Garoppolo to break out in 2020

Projected impact with 49ers in 2020

San Francisco will remain a run-first team this upcoming season, which is fine. That actually might benefit Jimmy Garoppolo, as his 113.4 passer rating on play-action passes suggests.

And Kyle Shanahan might have to rely on that approach early in 2020, especially if Deebo Samuel is still on the mend and Brandon Aiyuk has yet to acclimate to life at the pro level. Both players’ availability and ability not being at 100 percent could ultimately cut into the big numbers many are hoping to see Garoppolo post this season.

San Francisco 49ers

If he starts slow, life isn’t terrible if some of those questionable interceptions and poor throws are eliminated.

But it will raise questions about whether or not the 49ers are getting their money’s worth.

It’s going to be a question for another time, but Garoppolo will command $26.6 million of the team’s salary cap this season. He’ll be the starter, and there’s no chance of him not making the roster. In 2021, though, cutting Garoppolo would save a potentially cash-strapped 49ers squad $24.1 million with only $2.8 million in dead money.

Needless to say, 2020 is going to be a watershed year for Jimmy G.

The good news is he’ll have a full year’s experience working under Shanahan’s offense, and all the terminology and nuances of the system should be much more understood this time around than they were a season ago.

It might not translate into a statistically dominant campaign for Jimmy G, but that’s not necessarily the concern here.

What is, however, is whether or not the Niners can get their quarterback into the ranks of an upper-echelon quarterback capable of making those key throws in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl.