49ers NFL Draft: 5 positions to address after free agency

49ers NFL Draft Need No. 1: Quarterback

It’s looking more and more evident San Francisco will stick with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021 despite a truckload of speculation the team would move on.

But beyond this season, it’s anyone’s guess. Garoppolo’s contract expires in 2023 but has similar outs with friendly cap savings potentially generated, meaning the same conversations had this offseason likely aren’t going to go away anytime soon.

Especially considering the 49ers haven’t extended or restructured his current deal.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners ultimately passed on signing veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to back Jimmy G up even though John Lynch expressed a need to find some quality depth in the wake of Garoppolo’s serious injuries in 2018 and 2020. The non-move currently leaves backups, Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson, as the only two rostered options.

San Francisco could and should add a signal-caller during the draft. But who winds up getting selected and where will say a ton about Garoppolo’s long-term future.

This year’s NFL Draft has plenty of quarterbacking options, but it’s a top-heavy class in terms of talent. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and BYU’s Zach Wilson are likely the first two players selected, meaning the 49ers either have to trade up to land either Ohio State’s Justin Fields or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, or they’ll have to hope one of those two names slips to No. 12 overall.

At any rate, Garoppolo’s fate beyond 2021 will be determined by which one of these possible names Lynch selects:

• Justin Fields, Ohio State
• Trey Lance, NDSU
• Mac Jones, Alabama
• Kyle Trask, Florida
• Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
• Jamie Newman, Georgia
• Davis Mills, Stanford
• Sam Ehlinger, Texas
• Ian Book, Notre Dame

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29.