SF 49ers: Who will be the starting quarterback in 2021?

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Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the SF 49ers talks to Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

SF 49ers Option No. 4: Big-Contract Veterans — Matt Ryan (10%), Matthew Stafford (3%), Kirk Cousins (1%), Carson Wentz (1%)

Remember when Kyle Shanahan’s original plan back in 2017 was to eventually land now-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

That never came to fruition, although the possibility of it happening in 2021 is still on the table.

At least to a small point.

The SF 49ers could pursue an established well-known veteran this offseason. Cousins is a name to watch because of his previous experience with Shanahan in Washington. So is the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan because of their time together in Ryan’s 2016 MVP year. The Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz, now benched for rookie QB Jalen Hurts, need to be added to the mix.

The problem, though, is all of these names are still under contract with their respective teams into 2021. Unless those teams want to drastically shake things up with their roster and engineer some costly cuts, any move by the Niners would likely require a significant trade package in return.

Speaking of costs, acquiring any of the aforementioned names wouldn’t exactly solve the issue Jimmy Garoppolo’s 2021 cap hit creates. Outside of Stafford ($20 million owed next season aside from his bonus), the rest are all more expensive than Jimmy G anyway.

Shanahan could want his way regardless of cost, but it doesn’t seem overly likely.