SF 49ers: Power ranking each position after offseason roster cuts
By Peter Panacy
. . Quarterback. 5. player. 42.
No. 5: SF 49ers Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard
The Jimmy Garoppolo fans may argue San Francisco’s crop of cornerbacks deserve to be higher on this list.
After all, despite what pundits said about Jimmy G during the offseason, his 2019 efforts were pretty spectacular. Not only did he pass for 3,978 yards during the regular season, fourth best in franchise history, but his 50-percent completion mark on third-down passes for a first down ranked best in the NFL among qualifiers.
Yes, Garoppolo put forth a good first year as a full-time starter.
But the importance will be building upon that success, becoming the orchestrator of an offense that, while still reliant upon the ground game, will need to find some consistency and prowess through the air. That’s Garoppolo’s goal for 2020.
It’s comforting to know, however, the SF 49ers boast a competent backup to Garoppolo in Nick Mullens, who flashed his own prowess late in 2018 and went 3-5 amid a lost season for Kyle Shanahan and Co.
Keeping C.J. Beathard on the roster as the No. 3 option ensures the pandemic won’t strike this position too hard, even though the Niners would prefer Mullens and Beathard not see a meaningful snap in 2020.