49ers roster: 5 most important offensive players entering 2021

No. 1 Most Important Offensive Player for 49ers: Whoever Starts at Quarterback

Is it going to be Jimmy Garoppolo? Or will fans see the top-drafted rookie, Trey Lance, take the field over Jimmy G in Week 1?

The prediction seems to change on a weekly basis, and the reality is none of us have any clue. It could be Garoppolo taking the field for the first half of the season, only to be replaced at the first string of bad performances, an injury or at that moment when Kyle Shanahan feels Lance gives the 49ers as good a chance at winning games.

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Either way, the one major element the Niners have lacked during Shanahan’s tenure has been consistent quarterbacking play.

Partially due to injuries, Garoppolo hasn’t been that guy since 2017, and his lone full year as a starter (2019) still left a lot to be desired as a true franchise-caliber signal-caller. In all the other years, before and since, San Francisco has been forced to rely on a multitude of backups.

No wonder why Shanahan has boasted three losing seasons with 10-plus losses in four years.

Regardless of who winds up taking snaps over the bulk of 2021, Garoppolo or Lance, the quarterback will ultimately bear the burden of ensuring the 49ers offense is better than just effective.

Considering the firepower surrounding him, the Niners’ starting signal-caller has to be on point, and his importance to the offense can’t be understated.