5 surprising roster cuts 49ers may make after training camp

49ers surprise roster cut No. 1: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo

Perhaps this isn’t a surprise, suggesting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is going to be moved by the time Week 1 rolls around as the Niners look to transition fully to second-year pro Trey Lance under center.

What could be the surprise, though, is specifically how San Francisco ends up parting ways with Jimmy G.

The 49ers have spent the bulk of the offseason trying to trade the veteran quarterback. Amid Garoppolo’s offseason shoulder surgery and in light of the quarterbacking carousel turning wildly without being moved, including Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers, he’s still on the roster.

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And while the Niners will likely continue trying to trade him, there’s a strong chance no suitors will offer up anything in the way of compensation. Certainly not with a post-trade cap hit of over $25 million.

Teams may line up to sign Garoppolo if he’s made a free agent, yes, and that’s potentially what San Francisco has to do here if no trade materializes. While there is an argument for keeping him as a backup to Lance, inviting the same quarterback-controversy circus that surrounded both Garoppolo and Lance last year might simply be too much to navigate once more.

As such, the 49ers may simply have to cut bait rather than execute a trade.