NFL insider on 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo: 'No one dies if Trey Lance has to sit for another year'

Following months of speculation and rumors about supposed concerns some within the San Francisco 49ers may have regarding 2021 rookie Trey Lance, Lance is currently serving as the club's starting quarterback for organized team activities as veteran Jimmy Garoppolo continues to recover from shoulder surgery he underwent in March. 

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested last month that Garoppolo could ultimately be traded at some point after he resumes throwing in late June or early July. Shanahan did, however, add at that time there was no "guarantee" such a transaction will occur. 

San Francisco general manager John Lynch has repeatedly insisted he's in no hurry to cut Garoppolo or trade the 30-year-old at a discounted price. Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport explained on "The Rich Eisen Show" that those aren't Lynch's only options even if no team comes calling for Garoppolo. 

"I would say they would like to trade him, but they don't have to," Rapoport said about Jimmy G. "And if Trey Lance isn't ready, and you have Garoppolo for [over] $20 million, and you can't trade him because he's not healthy enough in time to be traded, you've got to let him get out there and compete. What if he is the better quarterback?

"No one dies if Trey Lance has to sit for another year. It doesn't hurt anyone." 

Since February, numerous whispers have emerged claiming some associated with the 49ers believe Garoppolo and not Lance gives the franchise the best chance to return to at least the NFC Championship. Unless Shanahan and/or Lynch pour cold water over such talk, conversations like the one sparked by Rapoport will inevitably continue to arise.