San Francisco 49ers: 5 early battles to monitor for 2021 training camp
By Peter Panacy
49ers training camp battle No. 4: Quarterbacking depth chart
It might not be as fluid as some of the other training camp battles. But what happens at quarterback is likely to have some pretty serious long-term ramifications over the next four-plus years.
San Francisco drafted North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance at No. 3 overall with the full intent of making him a franchise centerpiece. Yet head coach Kyle Shanahan has stressed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is going to start in 2021.
At least initially.
Lance could close the gap sooner than anticipated. And it’s foolish to think Garoppolo is automatically guaranteed all of the upcoming season, especially if Lance develops faster than some think.
Related Story. 49ers must have open QB competition in training camp. light
Shanahan likely keeps three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, and those two are all but guaranteed spots, meaning there’s only one more roster spot available for the other three signal-callers: Josh Johnson, Josh Rosen and the recently added Nate Sudfeld.
Sudfeld, whose guaranteed money is at $252,000 according to Over the Cap, seems to have an edge over the former first-round pick, Rosen, who was only added late in 2020 because of the injury attrition at the position.
Plus, Sudfeld worked with now-Niners quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello last year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It’s likely Sudfeld pushes both Rosen and Johnson off the regular-season roster, although camp will make the final determination.