Having given up a second-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo, most assumed the San Francisco 49ers viewed him as their long-term option under center.
However, that might not be the case.
The 49ers could still use their potential top-2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to select a quarterback or a significant portion of their $60 million in cap space to sign a free-agent quarterback such as Kirk Cousins, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
If San Francisco takes either of those routes, they could franchise tag Garoppolo and then attempt to trade him. There would be interest in Garoppolo and the 49ers could get more than the second-rounder they gave up for him, added Schefter.
Garoppolo is set to be active in Week 9, but C.J. Beathard will continue as the starter until the newly acquired pivot is ready to take over.
