49ers roster: 5 moves John Lynch must execute without question in 2022

No. 1: 49ers must fully move on from Jimmy Garoppolo

Yes, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has played well enough this season. Not great or elite by any stretch, but good enough. At 30 years old, that’s who he is.

And it’s time for San Francisco to proverbially “rip the Band-Aid off” this offseason.

The 49ers invested next year’s first- and third-round draft picks, plus a 2022 first-rounder, in rookie quarterback Trey Lance. Yes, Lance is raw and needs refinement. But that kind of investment won’t justify any statements from some in the media that state the Niners could potentially keep Jimmy G for the final year of his deal.

Such as NBC Sports Peter King, who reported San Francisco has yet to come to that decision.

John Lynch and the 49ers can’t afford to overthink this, literally. Not only would another year of Garoppolo further thwart Lance’s on-field development, it would seriously call into question the Niners’ aggressive trade-up for him.

On top of that, Garoppolo is scheduled to earn $27 million in 2022, but only $1.4 million of that would be dead money if he’s cut or traded.

Money that’d be vital to extend Nick Bosa, re-sign K’Waun Williams or Azeez Al-Shaair and other players, as Lance plays on his cheaper rookie contract.

San Francisco took the plunge by trading up for Lance, and Lynch needs to let that decision play itself out in full by parting ways with Garoppolo.