49ers 2021 ‘Who is?’ series: A swan song for Jimmy Garoppolo

Why Jimmy Garoppolo finally flames out with 49ers in 2021

Unfortunately, even a fully healthy Jimmy Garoppolo comes with a lot of concerns, and those aren’t going to simply go away just because of a few offseason transactions.

Sure, Trey Lance putting pressure on Garoppolo should spark a better competition. But even with above-average offensive line production, such as the kind the Niners enjoyed over the first half of 2019, didn’t help Jimmy G from avoiding some of the many mistakes he had over the course of that year.

For starters, Garoppolo owns a career 2.7 interception percentage, and his 2.9-percent mark with San Francisco is even worse. Elite-level quarterbacks typically hover around or below one percent, while anyone boasting a 3.0-plus interception percentage is on the cusp of being cut.

In comparison, former 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens led the NFL last season with a 3.7 interception percentage. Not good.

This Jimmy G turnover problem isn’t likely to go away anytime soon, and the fact the Niners have some serious depth concerns at wide receiver behind pass-catchers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk could compound Garoppolo’s interception woes. The Niners have yet to identify a replacement for one of Garoppolo’s favorite targets in recent years, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, whose free-agent departure during the offseason opens up a void for the No. 3 wideout role.

Exactly how much of this impacts Garoppolo’s accuracy and interception numbers in 2021 is anyone’s guess.

But if those numbers get high enough and Jimmy G struggles early, the calls for Lance are going to ring louder and louder.