Which 49ers players are on the bubble entering training camp?
By Peter Panacy
49ers training camp bubble watch: Quarterback
Lock: Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld
Strong bubble: None
Weak bubble: Jimmy Garoppolo, Brock Purdy*
Long shot: None
Alright, the question every 49ers fan is wondering: Will quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo be on the team’s 53-man roster come Week 1?
Garoppolo has started throwing again in the wake of offseason shoulder surgery, but the latest and greatest only reinforces what we’ve known all offseason: The Niners have been looking to trade him, and Garoppolo’s camp even received permission to seek out a transaction somewhere.
By trading Garoppolo, San Francisco could clear up to $25.5 million in cap space, which is money needed to offer up lucrative extensions for players like Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa, and such a move would fully cement Trey Lance as the team’s starter for the long run.
Sure, there is a scenario where the 49ers keep Jimmy G as an expensive backup, yet that would invite the same circus that circulated around the two quarterbacks for all of last season.
No, not ideal.
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Meanwhile, down towards the bottom of the depth chart, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not Nate Sudfeld can hold off the final pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, Brock Purdy, for the rights to back up Lance this season.
Sudfeld’s one-year contract is worth a fully guaranteed $2 million, so he’ll be on the roster regardless.
Purdy, meanwhile, doesn’t exactly strike a lot of confidence as someone who’d be worth using a roster spot on this season.
Training camp kicks off with on-field practices beginning on Wednesday, July 27.
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