Jimmy Garoppolo is unquestionably the 49ers QB

It seems that every time a quarterback becomes available, the 49ers are a speculative destination. Tom Brady, Cam Newton, even Jordan Love in the draft. Recently, even Aaron Rodgers’ name came up as a target in 2021. There has also been continuing chatter of Nick Mullens just taking over.

None of these will happen. There are reasons for it. 

First of all, Jimmy Garoppolo is a winner. There’s a lot to be said for that. He’s 23-6 as a starting QB. 21-6 as 49ers QB. In 48 regular season games with Shanahan, the 49ers are 19-5 with Garoppplo, 4-20 without him. He wasn’t just the beneficiary of the great 2019-20 team either. He lead a bad 1-10 team in 2017-18 to 5 straight wins and a 6-10 record. He just wins games. That’s hard to ignore. 

Jimmy Garoppolo is a leader and is well-liked and respected by everyone in the organization and people in the game have nothing but good things to say about him. His teammates love him, the front office loves him. Other teams respect him. He’s a terrific leader and exudes am energy that is irreplaceable. He’s just the type of person that this organization has needed at that position. He fits the culture they are building so well. 

Let’s not forget that he’s actually a good QB. He was top 5 in some important offensive categories last year. That was coming off a torn ACL and it being his first full season of starting. He’s going to be able to do more in 2020-21. Matt Ryan took a significant step forward in his second year with Shanahan in Atlanta. There is no reason to believe the same can’t happen with Garoppolo, who is more talented than many give him credit for. 

There just isn’t any indication that the 49ers would move on from Garoppolo. The people within the organization and the game knows he’s their guy. All the chatter about them not liking him is nothing more than nonsensical outside noise. They like him a lot and there are many reasons why they do. 

Sure he isn’t the best QB but I also don’t think we’ve seen his best. And he doesn’t have to be elite to be their guy. Shanahan is going to put him in the best position to be successful and in turn Garoppolo will put his teammates in the best spots to be successful. That’s how Shanahan offenses work. He doesn’t need the best at every position to make it work. He just needs good fits. Garoppolo is a good fit for this team and Shanahan has praised him time after time. 

If you know anything about Shanahan’s, they know offense a lot. They just get it. Mike Shanahan was great with QBs. Kyle is too. They were right about Cousins over Griffin III in Washington. They are often right about QBs, and a lot of other things too. It takes a lot to get approval from a Shanahan. Garoppolo has it. That should say a lot. 

I don’t see any way they move on from Garoppolo any time soon unless he totally loses it, which doesn’t seem likely. He is the guy the 49ers want to be their QB for 15 years if possible. They have a great thing in this organization right now and Garoppolo is a huge part of that. Messing with a good thing would be a mistake this organization doesn’t need. I also don’t think they’d find a better option than Garoppolo that is realistic or even a fit that’s worth the trouble. Brady wasn’t, Newton isn’t, Rodgers won’t be. Garoppolo is the guy. Now let’s put this to rest already. 

49ers take two players in round 1 of NFL draft

The 49ers had two picks for the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. One scheduled at 13 and one at 31. Let’s see what they did.

They began their night by trading down one spot with Tampa Bay. They acquired picks 14 and 117 for 13 and a 7th rounder. The Buccaneers used the pick to select a tackle in Tristan Wirfs, an option for the 49ers who might have needed help there.

There were talks the 49ers could trade down again, but with CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Justin Jefferson on the board, a WR was in the cards. The 49ers, however, had other plans.

They stayed with the pick and selected South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. After losing Buckner by way that they couldn’t afford him under the cap (the reason they also had this pick), they immediately replace him. 

Kinlaw is a monster of a man and a heck of a player to boot. He’s more explosive on the line than Buckner and pushes the line. He can be a terrific disrupter but can also make plays himself. It’s a seamless transition for that defensive line that is expected to stay dominant. After Kinlaw, the draft talent at the position drops dramatically. So it was smart to pick that up here with a dominant force like Kinlaw. Even though most wanted wide receiver here, I will assume other teams hate that the 49ers were able to get this guy and not lose a beat on that dominant defensive line while saving cap space in the process. 

With their other pick, everyone was expecting them to trade down from 31. After trading down from 13 to 14 landed them a 4th, the theme appeared to be that they’d add a 2nd and a 3rd (or another 4th) to the draft pool there. They didn’t. They didn’t pick at 31 though either. No, they surprised us all by trading up in the draft. They traded 31, the 4th they had just got and a 5th to the Vikings for pick 25. With this pick they selected WR Brandon Aiyuk out of Arizona State

Aiyuk is a freak of an athlete. He stands at 6”1 and over 200 LBS. He has an 81 inch wingspan (almost 7 feet) and ran a 4.5 40-time with a core muscle injury. Watching him play, he’s a treat. He’s a yards after the catch machine that is explosive and shifty (he was a former running back after all). He models his game after Odell Beckham Jr., a guy the 49ers have been chasing forever. Shanahan is going to love using this guy. In fact, Shanahan said he rated this guy as his top WR in the class. 

49ers would have never gotten him had they traded down or even stayed at pick 31. He was a popular late 1st round option for teams either picking there or wanting to trade back into the 1st. They had conviction to get him, and when Shanahan wants a guy, he gets the guy. 

49ers added two perfect fits to fill the two biggest voids on the team at DT and WR. But now they are left in no man’s land without picks in rounds 2-4. They also have one less pick in rounds 5 and 7. They currently only own three more picks. They are likely close on a Goodwin trade, but I’d be shocked if that brought a 5th at most. Breida trade is likely too, but the ceiling for that is likely a 4th at best. A 5th for Breida and a 6th for Goodwin is more likely. 

Even still, I can’t envision the 49ers just sitting out rounds 2-3. The narrative about wanting picks in those rounds isn’t fully false. Their behavior in round 1 doesn’t change that fact. They will probably try to find a way to get into these rounds knowing this regime. They never just sit out. They will really look at finding a creative and smart as ever way to make that happen that nobody expects because that’s what they do. 

But as for round 1, they got two high-caliber players that really fit what they are doing, from an on-field perspective and a culture perspective. Two guys who are proud to be 49ers and ready to work (Javon Kinlaw openly said he wanted the 49ers to draft him in fact). Welcome, Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk. 

NFL mock draft: 4.0 (final predictions)

Bengals:

Joe Burrow, QB LSU

The most obvious pick in this draft. Bengals have spent so much time talking to him, talks that go deep enough to assume the pick is already decided. 

Redskins:

Chase Young, DE OSU

Redskins are interesting here. They could trade down with a team in need of a QB or even take a QB themselves. I don’t think either happens. Chase Young is too tantalizing to pass up. No surprises in the first 2 picks. That won’t last. 

Dolphins (trade with Lions):

Jedrick Wills, OT Alabama 

Dolphins trade up to select......... a tackle. As hard as it is to believe, this is a real possibility now. Actually, it’s not what you think. They traded their other two 1sts at 18 and 26 plus some other picks to get this pick. They still pick at 5 too. They get Jedrick Wills before the Giants can. He has experience protecting Tua’s blindside. You can guess who they’ll pick at 5. 

Giants:

Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa 

Simmons is hard to pass up, but protection is very important for the QB they just drafted top 10 last year. Also important for the RB they drafted at the top of the draft too the year before. Another building block for that offense. 

Dolphins:

Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama 

This was quite the strategy by the Dolphins. Landing the QB and the lineman who protected him in college. Great 1st round by Miami. 

Chargers:

Justin Herbert, QB Oregon 

No trade ups for QBs in this top part of the draft. Still think all go in short order though. Herbert is a guy that really fits what the Chargers are looking for. He doesn’t go top 5, but he still hears his name called early. 

Raiders (trade with Panthers):

CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma 

The Raiders make the move up to get ahead of anyone else to select the best WR in the class in CeeDee Lamb. I think Mayock and Gruden will love this guy. I debated Ruggs here as I think it’s between those two, but I think they elect to go with Lamb. He’s the best option and remains so. Raiders get a true WR1. 

Buccaneers (trade with Cardinals): 

Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia 

Buccaneers move up to get their new QB much-needed protection. Important for a soon-to-be 43-year old QB. 

Jaguars:

Derrick Brown, DT Auburn  

Very talented player. Just fell due to circumstances of a top 10 full of QBs, OTs and Young. Plus the surprise WR move I guess. Jags don’t hesitate on this one. Their defensive line needs a major rebuild. 

Browns:

Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson  

Browns can’t believe he fell to them. But that’s how the board went. Great pick by the Browns. That defense looks so good. 

Jets:

Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville 

4 tackles in 11 picks. The Jets get protection for Darnold. Becton has so much upside but some wonder if he’ll bust. That’s why he falls (more than the drug test thing). 

Panthers (trade with Raiders):

Jeff Okudah, CB OSU

How Okudah fell this far is due to circumstance alone (a trend I’m sensing). A run on tackles, QBs, a WR and being the 4th best defensive player in the class will do that. A longer than expected wait for Okudah, who sees his name plastered in top 10s, even 5s, most mocks. But he still hears his name called pretty early. 

49ers:

Henry Ruggs, WR Alabama 

This is a scary thought for most involved. That speed in Shanahan’s offense is unreal. He’s not just speed though. He is a football player, not just a track guy playing football. Freakish athlete with 4.2 speed......... in Shanahan’s offense. Oh 

Cardinals (trade with Buccaneers):

Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina 

The Cardinals take best player available here. Kinlaw will be great on that defensive line, a unit that needs to be better. 

Broncos:

Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama  

Broncos get their guy in Jeudy who is surprisingly the third receiver taken. He fits what the Broncos need to compliment Sutton. 

Falcons:

CJ Henderson, CB Florida 

CBs fall a bit here and the Falcons are a beneficiary. Henderson is a great add to this team. Great replacement for Trufant. 

Cowboys:

Kristian Fulton, CB LSU

Cowboys desperately needed defensive back help before Byron Jones left in FA. They definitely need it now. Fulton is a great start. 

Lions (trade with Dolphins):

Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma 

Nobody has anything bad to say about Murray on or off the field. He’s well-liked. The kind of character the Lions franchise needs. An organization that has lacked a franchise LB for awhile finally gets one. 

Raiders:

Joshua Jones, OT Houston  

Yeah, the Raiders added their big playmaker. Won’t matter if Derek Carr can’t get the ball to him because his face in the dirt. Kolton Miller, who they drafted first round in 2018, has not been great. They get another chance here with Joshua Jones, a sturdy piece for that line. 

Jaguars:

Austin Jackson, OT USC

QB protection in round 1 this year is a good strategy. Especially for a team that might be ushering in a new QB this time next year. Gotta prepare. 

Eagles:

Justin Jefferson, WR LSU

Remarkably, Jefferson makes it here after all. All the months of speculating this fit comes to fruition. Jefferson fits very nicely for a team in need of top-end WR help. 

Vikings:

Jalen Reagor, WR TCU

I love this fit for the Vikings. Shorter, quicker receiver who makes plays. Remind you of someone the Vikings did have? It should. 

Patriots:

Ezra Cleveland, OT Boise State 

Patriots typically invest heavily in that offensive line. I expect nothing will change just because Brady isn’t there. Cleveland could be their new Solder. 

Saints:

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU

Local guy who played in LSU goes to the Saints to beef up that defense. Strong move. 

Vikings:

Jaylon Johnson, CB Utah 

Jalen and now Jaylon to the Vikings. The Vikings fulfill addressing two major needs in this round. Two great fits too. 

Lions (trade with Dolphins):

D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia 

Lions could do a number of things here, but they look at the board and see a playmaker like Swift right there. It’s hard to pass up. That offense lacks playmakers besides Goladay really. Kerryon Johnson is a fine but not great RB. Swift could help revolutionize that offense. He’s so good and dynamic. 

Seahawks:

Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE PSU

The Seahawks are built on defense and continue to fill in on it. 

Ravens:

Jordyn Brooks, LB Texas Tech 

A late 1st round surprise perhaps? Brooks is getting a ton of love late in this process. He could sneak into round 1. The Ravens are a fit. 

Titans:

AJ Terrell, CB Clemson 

Titans get some secondary help. Terrell will work. 

Packers:

Cole Kmet, TE Notre Dame 

Don’t be too shocked to hear Kmet come up in round 1. I think the Packers are a good fit. They lost Jimmy Graham and need a replacement. Another target for Rodgers too. 

Colts (trade with 49ers):

Jordan Love, QB Utah State 

49ers really need day 2 picks. They will get a couple here by being the beneficiary of Jordan Love falling. It’s not a total surprise he fell though given the real lack of need at QB outside the top 10 besides the Patriots who I don’t think would want a guy like Love who needs to develop under some core veteran QBs. Would have been perfect if Brady were still there. So the Colts are the fit. He can develop under Rivers and Brissett, which is a good group to develop under. 

Chiefs:

Michael Pittman, WR USC

What do you do when you have an unstoppable offense? Add to it. Their receiving core could use help outside of Hill. Watkins was hit or miss and Hardman and Robinson are iffy. Kelce is their best pass-catcher at TE. Pittman would compliment the speed of the outside receivers they have with some much-needed size that Andy Reid can play with from that spot. 50 points a game? 60? 70? More? The sky is the limit. 

Draft won’t be a failure if 49ers don’t pick receiver early

A lot of talk surrounding the 49ers as the NFL draft approaches is how they vehemently need a wide receiver...... and a top one. People are saying if they don’t get Lamb, Jeudy or Ruggs at pick 13 that it’s a failure. I see things a bit differently actually.

Firstly, people have to realize just how good Deebo Samuel was last season for a rookie. 57 catches, 802 yards and 3 TDs. It wasn’t an elite year, but that’s darn good for a rookie second-round selection. 

They also forget about George Kittle, who is a better receiving tight end than any other in the league besides Travis Kelce. He’s a 1000 yard receiver as a tight end typically. He’s special from that position. He gets a lot more targets than many tight ends because he’s that good. Him and Deebo could combine for 2000 receiving yards next season. That’s really good for a team’s top 2 receivers. 

This offense also isn’t built to pass the ball 50 times a game (for some reason the 49ers offense is compared to the Chiefs despite two totally different styles). The 49ers fo run the ball a lot and figure for keep doing so. Shanahan might want to throw it more next year, but he doesn’t want games like the ones against the Saints, Cardinals and the second Rams game, even though they won. 

Also being forgotten is they are getting two receivers back. Jalen Hurd, who was supposed to be big in this offense as he’s a matchup issue that Shanahan can play with as WR, TE and RB. They are getting Trent Taylor back too, who has a great rapport with Jimmy Garoppolo. For whatever reason, those two seem to work well together. They also will get back a part of their passing game they haven’t had. A receiving running back. Jerrick McKinnon might actually make his debut with the 49ers. Shanahan had a plan for him that he hasn’t gotten to use yet. That part of the passing game could unlock different things we haven’t seen yet. I get it’s hard to trust three guys coming back from injury, but Shanahan likes them for a reason.

Going further on that, Shanahan isn’t known for building offense with labels. He doesn’t have a WR1 or a RB1. He builds offense by roles and rides hot hands. Nothing displays that more than how he handled running backs last year. Was never the same each week. He didn’t have a top back. He used his guys as he saw fit. That’s his unique way to build an offense. He zeroes in on guys who do certain things well and puts them in roles to be successful. That’s what he does. And it’s worked as he is known as one of the best offensive minds in the game. 

Would it be nice to land a top WR either in a trade or the draft? Sure. But I won’t get hung up if it doesn’t happen. It’s not as big of a need as people are saying. It wouldn’t be a failure if they don’t take one. Any additional weapon in this offense will help for sure. But if they see a defensive tackle, offensive tackle, cornerback or whatever on the board they like more than a receiver, they’ll do that. I think they’ve earned the trust of fans, whatever they do in the draft. 

NFL mock draft 3.0: Surprise QB trade early and WR madness

Bengals:

Joe Burrow, QB LSU

The most obvious pick in this draft. Bengals have spent so much time talking to him, talks that go deep enough to assume the pick is already decided. 

Redskins:

Chase Young, DE OSU

Redskins are interesting here. They could trade down with a team in need of a QB or even take a QB themselves. I don’t think either happens. Chase Young is too tantalizing to pass up. No surprises in the first 2 picks. That won’t last. 

Patriots (trade with Lions):

Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama 

There are so many connections here. Patriots and Alabama coaching staffs are close due to the Belichick-Saban relationship. Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn worked with Belichick too. This makes so much sense. Patriots want a QB, the Lions want to move down. Maybe not 20 spots down, but New England has so many picks to offer. 12 this year and probably a similar amount next year. And this would be the kind of draft pick haul we haven’t seen in a long time. Lions can build a real core with the haul more than they can by picking a player here or trading down just a couple spots for an additional pick or two. The Patriots pull this off in a crazy move to set the tone for a crazy night. 

Giants:

Jedrick Wills, OT Alabama 

Simmons is hard to pass up, but protection is very important for the QB they just drafted top 10 last year. Also important for the RB they drafted at the top of the draft too the year before. Another building block for that offense. 

Dolphins:

Justin Herbert, QB Oregon 

Dolphins counter the Patriots bold move for a QB by getting their own. Herbert has been their guy for awhile, quietly.

Chargers:

Derrick Brown, DT Auburn 

Offensive lines don’t want to imagine a world where Derrick Brown, Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa are coming after them. But reality hits after this pick. 

Panthers:

Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson 

Best player available for the Panthers here. It happens to fill a need though. LB help for Panthers. 

Broncos (trade with Cardinals):

Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama 

Broncos seem to really want Jeudy. He compliments what Sutton does so well. He’s polished and talented. I think he’ll be the first receiver taken. Broncos move up to snag him. 

Jaguars:

Jeff Okudah, CB OSU

Okudah falling this far is surprising, but also not when you see how the board fell in front of him. Jaguars don’t hesitate on this one. They need their Ramsey replacement. Okudah fits. 

Eagles (trade with Browns):

CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma  

Eagles seem to love Lamb, and who could blame them. They haven’t had a true number 1 WR in awhile. This is their opportunity to have one, and they make the bold move up to make sure they get him. 

Jets:

Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville   

Jets get their protection for Darnold they wanted. They are leaning o-line here despite WR also being a need. 

Raiders:

Henry Ruggs, WR Alabama 

Raiders go WR as well as the top 3 receivers are off the board quickly, within the first 12 picks. Crazy. 

49ers:

CJ Henderson, CB Florida 

The 49ers need at CB isn’t noted enough. Sherman in a contract year. None of their top 4 CBs are under contract for 2021. They need help at that position. Henderson is a good fit. He reminds me a bit of Sherman. He’d fit super well with his size and the defensive style he plays. With the top WRs off the board, this pick is easy. 

Buccaneers:

Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia 

They make a pick to protect Brady. Smart move. Brady will be thankful.

Cardinals (trade with Broncos):

Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa 

Cardinals move down and still get a tackle. Protection for Murray is super important. 

Falcons:

Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina 

The Falcons would move up for Kinlaw, but they don’t have to here. They get him anyways at their pick just based on how the board fell. 

Vikings (trade with Cowboys):

Justin Jefferson, WR LSU

Vikings don’t wait around to take a WR to replace Diggs. Jefferson is different than Diggs, but his steadiness and consistency meshes well with Kirk Cousins. 

Dolphins:

Ezra Cleveland, OT Boise State 

Dolphins get protection for their new QB. That’s smart. 

Raiders:

AJ Terrell, CB Clemson 

Get a top WR and a top CB in this class? Raiders make out like bandits in this round. 

Jaguars:

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU

The Jaguars continue to rebuild Sacksonville. Think they got two amazing players to do just that.

Browns (trade with Eagles):

Austin Jackson, OT USC

The Browns trade all the way down from 10 to 21 but still get an OT, the need they are most going after. 

Vikings:

Kristian Fulton, CB LSU

Another huge need filled for the Vikings. They lost three players at that position this offseason. They recoup a bit. 

Lions (trade with Patriots):

Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma 

The Lions need LB help and have for a long time. They get it here after their massive trade down that changed the whole complexion of this whole thing. 

Saints:

Denzel Mims, WR Baylor 

Saints don’t have many needs. They added this offseason to their biggest need in WR. But they want to build a super receiving core to the likes Brees has never had. Mims is the third piece. Thomas, Sanders and Mims with Kamara at RB for the final few years of Drew Brees’ career is just what they need to reach another Super Bowl. 

Cowboys (trade with Vikings):

Xavier McKinney, S Alabama 

Cowboys have needed a safety for awhile. They were interested for years in Earl Thomas and they like Jamal Adams as well. They finally find a great one in McKinney that they can develop themselves. 

Dolphins:

D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia  

Dolphins got a QB and an OT. RB is the next thing on the list. Swift has become the top one on the board. Dolphins scoop him up as their franchise-altering night continues.

Seahawks:

AJ Epenesa, EDGE Iowa

The Seahawks need offensive line help and they get it with a good one in Jones. More protection for Wilson who usually survives by running around and making things happen, not because he’s wanted to but because he’s had to. This should help. 

Ravens:

Patrick Queen, LB LSU

The Ravens have always had really good linebackers. Why not just keep that tradition alive with another one. Queen just feels like a Raven to me. I can already picture it. Match made in heaven. 

Titans:

Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE PSU

Best player available and nothing more here for the Titans. Good pick. 

Packers:

Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona State

Packers don’t usually spend high picks like this on WR, but they need help there as that group fell off a cliff when Adams was hurt. Rodgers doesn’t have long left in his career too like Brees. The Packers go help their QB the last few years of his career with a weapon. It’s a chase to catch the 49ers for the Packers and the Saints. 

Colts (trade with 49ers):

Jordan Love, QB Utah State

Love has a wide range (I’m no love expert though). One of the more divisive QBs, and players, in the class. After the top 3 go at QB, I don’t see many, if any, teams that need a QB that can’t wait until next year with another good QB class on the way. He’s raw and needs to sit for a year to be ready, but the Colts can offer him that. Develop a year behind Rivers and Brissett then take over after. Colts would be a great spot for him with a dome and a great o-line. They move up to get him on a 5th-year option, which is important if he’s going to sit out a year. 

Chiefs:

Cesar Ruiz, C Michigan 

Chiefs need interior line help and Ruiz is the best in the class easily. Not many teams in round 1 will pass on another player at a different position to take a C/G type of player. He holds the line super well. As if Mahomes needs any more help.