49ers Might Have to Look Into QB Market For 2023 Season Per John Lynch

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch expressed that he is open to adding a veteran quarterback as backup for 2023. With Trey Lance and Brock Purdy both returning from injuries, Lynch suggested the team may need to 'look' into that market as an insurance policy.

Garoppolo’s Injury History

The Niners have elevated Garoppolo to a centerpiece of their organization and have enjoyed success with him in the lineup, but his injury history has been an ongoing worry for his potential future. Last season's calf injury and broken foot both had significant impacts on his performance.

Over the past two seasons, Garoppolo has made just seven starts due to injuries; not enough time for him to build a meaningful rapport with opposing coaches and players. Even if he were healthy and playing well, it's unlikely the 49ers would keep him as their starter for the remainder of his career.

Many are now anticipating what will become of Garoppolo once his contract expires. There will likely be many suitors for his services, giving him an opportunity to explore free agency.

It's also possible that a team with an interest in him but lacks the cap space to commit long-term, may choose to trade for him. If this scenario plays out, it could make it more challenging for the Niners to decide whether they want to keep Garoppolo or not.

On Wednesday, a report suggested that Garoppolo will undergo shoulder surgery and be sidelined for 16 weeks, potentially impacting his trade value. Thankfully, Shanahan hasn't indicated that Garoppolo won't be back playing by Super Bowl weekend.

Garoppolo may have enough health issues for the Niners to declare him healthy enough for next season, but if not, it might be time for him to move on.

Garoppolo, entering his 20th NFL season, has proven that he can perform at a high level when healthy. With an impressive 42-19 record as a starting quarterback since joining San Francisco in 2007, including one trip to the Super Bowl and two appearances in the NFC Championship game, Garoppolo has proven that he can deliver when healthy.

He's had a number of injuries during his tenure with the 49ers, including a broken foot, shoulder issue and torn ACL. As such, he hasn't been quite the same player he was during his first two seasons in the league; it will be interesting to see if that changes when he hits free agency this year.

Purdy’s Injury

On Sunday night, the San Francisco 49ers suffered another setback in their NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles when quarterback Brock Purdy had to leave with an elbow injury. Backup Josh Johnson took his place, but it appears that Purdy's issue may be more serious than initially believed.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that 49ers' young signal-caller Alex Smith suffered a full tear to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) during the game and will need surgery. This major setback for the 2022 rookie sensation has left fans uncertain how he will recover from this major surgery.

Tommy John surgery would involve an extended recovery period. Fortunately for Purdy, he's seeking second opinions and it appears that he may be able to avoid reconstructive surgery altogether.

He's already been consulting with the team's doctor, who also serves as a surgeon for the Texas Rangers, and it appears he may opt for UCL repair instead of reconstruction. This would enable a speedy recovery and allow him to be ready to go during training camp.

There are plenty of quality quarterback options on the market, but Purdy has been an impressive star so far. His 116.0 passer rating is among the highest in the league and he has 16 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions. There's no denying his talent at this stage in the game.

At only 23 years old, Purdy has already made an impact in the NFL this season. His perfect 6-0 record through eight starts has cemented him as a key part of an offense with plenty of talented playmakers.

Purdy may return to the field this summer, but he may still be too young for the demands of NFL football. That is why he may benefit from taking on a different position such as backup or bridge player until he feels ready to take over as starting quarterback once more.

No matter the outcome of Purdy's injury, the future looks bright for the San Francisco 49ers. They possess a stable core of players to rely on and the possibility for another Super Bowl run appears high.

Lance’s Injury

On Sunday, San Francisco quarterback Trey Lance suffered a right ankle fracture during their win against Seattle, restricting him to two carries and forcing him out for the remainder of the season. It was Lance's second injury in just over one year of NFL activity; surgery will now remove stabilizing hardware that had caused irritation to his tendons.

Lynch reported that Lance's ankle is recovering well, though it will take approximately four to six weeks for him to fully recover from surgery. In 2021, San Francisco traded up and selected him from North Dakota State; since then he's started four games for the Niners and completed 56 of 102 passes for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions while also running 54 times for 235 yards and one score.

Lance is expected to return for OTAs this summer, though his sample size is small and there's not a lot of consensus on whether he's an NFL-caliber quarterback. That could be why San Francisco could potentially consider trading Lance if they can find a veteran backup who can handle spot starts while keeping their price tag under what the open market will bear.

When it comes to quarterbacking, the 49ers must explore all options. That could include trading for Lance in 2023. But this would be a risky move as they must feel confident with Purdy's recovery timetable and guarantee he won't immediately regain the starting job upon returning from injury.

With regards to Garoppolo, the team must decide whether it wants to keep him and wait until his UCL injury heals. If they do, that would provide them with a reliable veteran option to replace Lance in 2023.

The San Francisco 49ers' quarterback situation does not look promising, and a major decision must be made soon. It will be difficult to make this choice, but the team hasn't had this many injuries since 2014. With four seasons of injuries under their belt and the prospect of long-term issues looming, the organization must act now.

The Future

After a turbulent conclusion to Jimmy Garoppolo's tenure in San Francisco, the veteran quarterback will enter the free-agent market for the first time in his professional career. In an age when teams can be selective when selecting new members, Garoppolo's decision to depart seems especially puzzling.

At his end-of-year press conference, head coach Kyle Shanahan made it abundantly clear that the 49ers did not anticipate Garoppolo returning to the team in 2023. That statement, coupled with the fact that Garoppolo has yet to start a game this season, provides further confirmation that Garoppolo won't be joining them in 2023.

Team management must now consider exploring the QB market for 2023. Here are a few options worth considering:

* Tampa Bay (2019)

The Buccaneers are one of the top destinations for quarterbacks, with Tom Brady set to retire after this season. Their roster boasts an impressive array of players on both sides of the ball, led by top receiver Terry McLaurin and two elite run-stuffers in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. With such a talented group at their disposal, it's no wonder why Tampa Bay remains so popular today!

They've also been known to retool the offense during the offseason, so they could be interested in adding a more experienced signal-caller for 2023. Furthermore, they could attempt to shift some contracts up against the salary cap, which may influence their decision-making process.

* New York Jets (2017)

There can be no doubt that the New York Jets need a new quarterback. After struggling to keep their starting quarterbacks healthy in recent seasons, they are looking to retool this year. Although their roster boasts plenty of talent, their offense has struggled recently.

They could look towards free agency or the draft for a QB solution, though there is no guarantee they'll find what they need. They could also renegotiate starting quarterback Zach Wilson's contract, who is due for renewal in 2023.