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The San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game opened up an offseason of questions for the franchise. Will quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, seemingly always on the hot seat with rookie Trey Lance breathing down his neck all year, return as the team's starting quarterback in 2022? Garoppolo, who threw a late interception that all but sealed the 49ers' fate, acknowledged a scenario where he isn't back in San Francisco following the tough loss to the Rams. Garoppolo has had chances to take the 49ers to the promised land but hasn't been able to do it. Harsh as that sounds, that's the bottom line. The 49ers are too talented a team to wait around for a quarterback that simply may never be able to get them over the hump. Conversely, the franchise needs to find out if Lance is that guy as well.
That said, here are three reasons why the 49ers need to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo and start Trey lance at QB in 2022.
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Why The 49ers Need To Start Trey Lance And Not Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022
3. Jimmy Garoppolo isn't the guy- and may never be
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Look, Jimmy Garoppolo is a great quarterback. Garoppolo has a good arm, is a tough guy and is very likeable. However, for all his postseason success, the 49ers signal-caller just hasn't been that good in the biggest of games. He made some questionable decisions in the team's Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs a couple of years ago. Garoppolo was decisive through the first three quarters of the game vs. the Rams but simply wasn't good enough for the 49ers to win in the fourth quarter. Yes, injuries certainly played a factor in Garoppolo's shaky play at times. However, the 49ers need someone to lift them to new heights, to lead them in the biggest moments when they desperately need it the most. Garoppolo has had an excellent career with the 49ers but it's starting to seem like he isn't that guy. And maybe he never will be.
2. Trey Lance makes the 49ers offense more dangerous
The 49ers typically like to employ a run-heavy offense. They were at their best this season when they were running the ball downhill with authority and playing physical football. Well, Lance, who ran for over 1000 yards in his last season in college, would bring a whole new dimension to the 49ers' offense. The rookie isn't quite the passer that Garoppolo is, but he would give San Francisco a more modern-style offense with his mobility. Not only that, but the unpredictability of the 49ers' running game with Lance, Elijah Mitchell, and Deebo Samuel would be a nightmare for opposing coordinators to gameplan against. Lance will need to prove more with his arm, though he has flashed his throwing ability at times in the NFL. The 49ers need to give Trey Lance more opportunities to show what he can do in 2022.
1. The 49ers need to find out if Trey Lance is that guy
If the 49ers decide that Jimmy Garoppolo isn't their franchise guy, then they need to find out if Trey Lance is or not. San Francisco spent too much and used far too much of their draft capital to get Lance for him to sit on the bench for another year. Lance needs to get into game action consistently as a starter so he can show the 49ers what he's capable of. The 49ers need to allow Lance to learn and grow with a great roster of playmakers around him. Yes, it may mean that the 49ers might not be the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2022. But, if Lance proves that he belongs in the NFL, then San Francisco might be in the market for Lombardi Trophies in the future.
