The 49ers acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots for a 2018 second-round draft pick on Oct. 30. Presumably, the 49ers locked up their quarterback of the future.
But, that's a big assumption. Garoppolo has only started two games in his career and is set to become a free agent after this season.
“Number one, we’re huge believers in Jimmy Garoppolo and his ability to be a franchise quarterback," 49ers GM John Lynch said Friday on the Murph & Mac Show. "So much so that we inquired throughout this last offseason, and were quickly shut down by Bill Belichick, but we did inquire to his availability."
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While Lynch didn't state that the 49ers will lock up Garoppolo to a long-term deal, he's clearly impressed with the signal caller who just turned 26 years old.
"I think what’s clear and what needs to be communicated to our fan base is we have great belief and that’s only been strengthened in his week that he’s been here,” Lynch said.
Garoppolo, drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 225 pounds. In six games last season where he took the field, Garoppolo threw for 502 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
"He hasn’t played a ton of football, we’re fully aware of that, but we feel, and I think a lot of people throughout this league feel, like we got a tremendous deal on a guy that has all the makings of a franchise quarterback," Lynch said. "We’re thrilled to have him and that’s what Jimmy Garoppolo is to us."
