4 weakest links on 49ers roster heading into 2021
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers boast a playoff-caliber roster in 2021, but there are still a number of players the team could worry about this upcoming season.
After an injury-plagued 2020 campaign, the San Francisco 49ers are hoping the law of averages swings back in their favor to produce a quality 2021 season.
One which sees the Niners return to the players, hopefully en route to making the Super Bowl and winning it this time.
For the most part, it’s easy to go down the roster and depth chart while getting excited about the possibility of a dominant campaign like the one San Francisco enjoyed back in 2019. All-Pro talents like linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle still headline the cast, while a fully healthy EDGE, Nick Bosa, should revitalize the defense under first-year coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
Despite the talents, though, there are still some weak links.
Including these four players, whom the 49ers hope won’t be too big of liabilities this upcoming season.
No. 4: 49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, not rookie Trey Lance, currently gives the Niners the best chance to win games right now.
And Garoppolo also has his limitations, including frequent injuries, which is the reason San Francisco was prompted to trade up for Lance in this year’s NFL Draft. It’s OK, both statements can be true at the same time.
Garoppolo, despite throwing for nearly 4,000 yards during his fully healthy 2019 campaign, will never be a major playmaker under center, and his relatively high 2.9 interception percentage during his tenure with the 49ers is indicative of the too-frequent picks he’ll toss on a seemingly weekly basis.
The Niners are hoping Lance pushes Garoppolo to a level they haven’t seen before, potentially making Jimmy G’s 2021 campaign the best one yet.
Turning 30 years old this season, however, the reality is what we’ve seen the last three-plus years is probably who Garoppolo is: a good starting-caliber quarterback but someone who can’t shoulder the rest of his team.
In a quarterback-driven league, an elite-level player at this position is so vital to have, and Garoppolo doesn’t meet the criteria.