49ers depth chart: 4 questions about 2021 quarterback room

49ers QB Question No. 4: What to do with Jimmy Garoppolo if Trey Lance wins QB1 job?

If Jimmy Garoppolo beats out Trey Lance for the Niners’ starting quarterback gig this season, well, that’s that.

Things could change during the regular season, of course. Garoppolo could suffer another injury, have a horrid stretch of games or whatever. But if Jimmy G wins out and then plays well, it likely won’t be until 2022 at the earliest when San Francisco considers moving him in one way or another.

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But what if Garoppolo loses this competition out of training camp?

Should this be the case, the 49ers aren’t exactly going to be inclined to keep him on the roster as a $26 million backup. Not with the ability to clear all but $1.4 million of that money for 2021 in the context of needing cash to extend players like All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

Right now, the quarterbacking market is pretty cool with the overwhelming majority of teams out there set at the position in one way or another. While that could change between now and Week 1 (injuries, poor camp performances, etc.), it’s highly unlikely another team out there would want to trade for Garoppolo and absorb that massive cap hit.

That leaves the other option: a straight-up release.

It would be a sad ending for Garoppolo and the Niners, but it would be an understandable one.

And one made much more bearable if Lance truly thrives.