The 49ers have their quarterback. The question now is, for how long?
When San Francisco sent a second-round draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for QB Jimmy Garoppolo on Monday, everyone assumed it was for longer than the team’s remaining eight games this season. But Garoppolo is due to become a free agent next offseason, and the 49ers will have to make a decision to either sign him to a long-term deal, or give him the one-year franchise tag. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, general manager John Lynch is planning on the former eventually, but at the moment isn’t close to doing so.
The #49ers will try to extend QB Jimmy Garoppolo, but an extension was not part of the deal, I’m told. Nothing is close or imminent.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2017
The 49ers would probably like to see how Garoppolo performs this season before making a long-term commitment, considering that the 25-year-old has made a grand total of two career starts. Garoppolo was extremely impressive in those games, throwing for 502 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, but still has a lot to prove before he can reasonably be counted on as the 49ers’ quarterback of the future.