5 potential destinations for Lions quarterback Jared Goff in 2023

3. San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo was called upon when Trey Lance suffered a broken ankle and was lost for the season, but he surely won’t be back in San Francisco next year. Even if Lance is ready to go for Week 1 next season, the 49ers have to have some kind of backup plan for someone as inexperienced as he still will be.

Garoppolo fit as the fallback option to Lance this year, as trading him became impossible when he had shoulder surgery and he didn’t try to force his way out. But next year that isn’t happening again with “Jimmy G”.

Around Garoppolo’s injury absences over the years, Kyle Shanahan has coaxed competent quarterback play out of guys like Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. Even as his reputation as an offensive guru fades a little at times, that stands as a positive mark.

The 49ers are plenty familiar with Goff, for better or worse, from his time with the Rams and playing against him twice a year in the NFC West. He won’t have to step in and be the starter, at least ideally as long as Lance is good to go, but San Francisco can do worse for a backup to the young quarterback they’ve invested big in.