Jimmy Garoppolo: Top 4 takeaways after 2021 49ers OTAs

No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo gives 49ers best chance to win right now

Trey Lance is fully intended to be San Francisco’s franchise signal-caller for the next five, perhaps 10 years.

But that doesn’t mean Lance gives the 49ers a quality shot at winning games right now.

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It’s important to note Lance started only one game in 2020 before COVID shut North Dakota State’s season down, and Lance has been a full-time starter for only one year at the collegiate level, tossing a net total of 318 passes during his entire college career.

During OTAs, Lance showed some serious improvement from being somewhat shaky during the first week before gaining his own composure in the second week, yet he was still sailing some of his passes and needs to get far more comfortable in Kyle Shanahan’s complex offense.

While wins and losses are a silly measure to gauge any quarterback’s overall success, looking at Garoppolo’s 22-8 regular-season record with the Niners says something.

Especially when Shanahan’s record without Garoppolo under center is 7-27.

Lance has a long ways to go to help close that gap. And while he might be exceptionally better than Garoppolo ever was at any point in his own career, Lance isn’t close to that point yet. It might be a while before he gets there, too.