The San Francisco 49ers, regardless of accidents and a quarterback controversy, had a comparatively profitable 2021 season.
They began the playoffs with a win over their longtime rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, then adopted it up with a gritty victory on the highway towards one other historic rival, the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Towards one more rival, the Los Angeles Rams, within the NFC Championship Sport, San Fran blew a 10-point lead and misplaced to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champs.
The Niners have one of many extra proficient groups on either side of the ball, and the choice they make about who will begin underneath middle – Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance – will set the scene for what ought to be an fascinating, and presumably an excellent 2022 marketing campaign.
Listed below are three daring predictions that would play out within the coming months.
3. The 49ers Will Maintain On To Garoppolo
Simply days in the past, it appeared that it was inevitable that Garoppolo can be carrying a brand new uniform for the approaching season.
After a number of participant motion resulted in groups that have been in search of a brand new QB touchdown one, the marketplace for Garoppolo may very well be about as barren because the drought that’s presently affecting California.
To make issues extra difficult, he not too long ago had surgical procedure on his proper shoulder and won’t be able to carry out any soccer actions for some time, which looks as if it could be a deterrent for potential suitors.
One other potential maintain up is the Niners’ calls for by way of return worth.
In the event that they demand an excessive amount of, particularly contemplating that he has peaked and is injury-prone, they might simply find yourself maintaining him.
San Francisco 49ers have been supplied two 2nd rd picks for Jimmy Garoppolo, however have but to drag the set off.#Niners pic.twitter.com/zncPbFi55a
— NFL Commerce Information (@NFLTradeNews) March 23, 2022
Maybe holding on to Garoppolo wouldn’t be the worst factor for San Francisco.
Maybe Lance wants a little bit extra seasoning earlier than he could be a full-time starter, and Garoppolo isn’t a nasty placeholder if that’s the case.
2. Lance Will Change into The Starter By Season’s Finish
If historical past is any information, Garoppolo will probably endure one other damage this coming season, which might be the right alternative for Lance to show that he can and can turn out to be a famous person QB.
Garoppolo has performed a full schedule solely as soon as, regardless of being the Niners’ starter underneath middle for 5 seasons.
A San Francisco beginning QB getting injured, solely to get replaced by a youthful, extra dynamic one is one thing that actually has precedent.
Practically a decade in the past, Alex Smith, who was actually a good signal-caller, suffered a concussion and was changed in the course of a contest towards the St. Louis Rams by Colin Kaepernick, who had by no means began a sport to that time.
When Kaepernick performed properly within the following sport whereas Smith recovered, head coach Jim Harbaugh determined to stay with the previous, and he led the Niners to a Tremendous Bowl look simply a few months later.
1. The 49ers Will Return To The NFC Championship
Regardless of who’s underneath middle, there isn’t a denying the Niners are filled with expertise.
They’ve versatile First-Group All-Professional broad receiver Deebo Samuel, promising younger working again Elijah Mitchell, star tight finish George Kittle, and All-Professional offensive lineman Trent Williams.
On protection, they boast elite go rusher Nick Bosa, they usually simply acquired Charvarius Ward, a cornerback who ought to enhance their secondary.
#49ers new CB Charvarius Ward is a dawg in protection 👀 pic.twitter.com/lAwQa9yi7X
— (@TheSFNiners_) March 15, 2022
Final season Charvarius Ward allowed 18 catches on 46 targets in man protection, which was 2nd greatest within the NFL. 🤯 #49ers pic.twitter.com/0k5NSlbomE
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 15, 2022
As well as, most of these aforementioned gamers are younger and should have unfulfilled potential.
With Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and Russell Wilson altering groups, the NFC gained’t be fairly as robust this coming season.
That might very properly open up the floodgates for the Niners to achieve the Tremendous Bowl for the second time in 4 years.
