A year ago, the San Francisco 49ers had lots of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position, as starter Jimmy Garoppolo was about to become a free agent.
Somehow, they have even more uncertainty now following their massive loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Garoppolo will again be a free agent, while Trey Lance is recovering from a severe ankle injury and rookie Brock Purdy will undergo surgery to fix a torn UCL in his elbow he sustained on Sunday.
The 49ers QB situation will be fascinating this offseason:
Brock Purdy: Facing 6-month recovery for a torn UCL
Trey Lance: Rehabbing from second ankle surgery, expected back by OTAs
Jimmy Garoppolo: Set to be a free agent
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 30, 2023
The 49ers have a very strong team at just about every other position, as they boasted the NFL’s top defense and have many weapons on the offensive side of the football.
With potential Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa at defensive end and middle linebacker Fred Warner and safety Talanoa Hufanga earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro first-team honors, San Francisco has a very physical and formidable squad on defense.
But quarterback is the most important position in all of sports, and without a strong one, the team will go nowhere.
Purdy is expected to be out for at least six months after having surgery, and if he needs Tommy John surgery, he could miss an entire year — or possibly more.
The Niners could conceivably decide to bring back Garoppolo once again, especially if Purdy will miss some or all of the 2023 campaign, but doing so would cost them plenty of money.
They have already committed lots of coin to keep Deebo Samuel in town, and they’re looking to give Bosa a lucrative extension this offseason as well.
