3 veteran quarterbacks SF 49ers can trade for in 2021
By Peter Panacy
There’s plenty of speculation the SF 49ers move on from Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, and trading for a quarterback is a possibility.
One might give quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a 50-50 shot for remaining with the SF 49ers into 2021 and beyond.
Garoppolo’s injury history, including 2018 and 2020, and questions about his ability to raise head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense to prolific levels have largely fueled the debate whether or not the Niners move on. And then there’s the fact San Francisco can save $24.1 million in much-needed cap space if it moves on from Jimmy G this offseason, too.
If Shanahan and the SF 49ers do elect to move on from Garoppolo, the would-be move opens up a slew of other possibilities. Will the Niners then elect to grab a prospect quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft? They’re probably not comfortable with either one of his backups, Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard (both free agents anyway), starting in a short- or long-term capacity. And the free-agent market outside of the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott is awfully thin.
While the draft remains a strong possibility, San Francisco has never shied away from executing blockbuster trades, and one could potentially be brewing this offseason if Garoppolo is on his way out.
One name in circles is that of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Considering Watson is a centerpiece-type player, though, it doesn’t seem likely Houston would make a mistake by trading him to a team like the SF 49ers, however.
Other players could be in the fray for an offseason trade, though, and the Niners could be an ideal situation.
Instead, here are three other veteran quarterbacks who could be San Francisco trade targets in 2021.