The most likely scenario is that the San Francisco 49ers enter the 2021 season with Jimmy Garoppolo under the center. While general manager John Lynch recently committed to this as a current plan, he did not stop the rampant speculation that the team is still looking for an upgrade.

Chris Simms of NBC Sports voiced his concern about Garoppolo’s availability. The defender has missed 23 games in the last three seasons due to injuries. However, when he is there, the 49ers are successful. The obvious case is the 2019 campaign during which Garoppolo started all 16 games for the first time in his NFL career, helping the 49ers to a 13-3 record, the NFC West crown and a Super Bowl appearance.

Simms believes San Francisco could resist to improve as a defender. With anyone else, this would only be communicated to another analyst with an opinion. However, Simms is a close friend of Kyle Shanahan and can understand the thinking of the 49ers head coach better than most. Although, Simms admits that Shanahan is often reluctant to share any football insights with him because of his position in the media.

What options does Simms have for Shanahan and the 49ers to upgrade to quarterback? He shared three scenarios via Twitter (h / t to Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated). By the way, no one involved Deshaun Watson.

The first seems to be a more prudent option. San Francisco is likely to see Garoppolo as a potential long-term solution. Of course, the 49ers who are wondering about other defenders this off-season make many wonder if this is the case.

Lynch recently said the team needs to have a better backup plan in place if Garoppolo loses time again. The 49ers tried unsuccessfully to advance last season with Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard, who were largely inefficient replacements. Adding a more capable backup might be ideal.

The second option would not necessarily lead to Garoppolo’s immediate departure. San Francisco could recruit the quarterback and allow him to stay one season and learn behind the veteran, who already has a solid understanding of the offense. The real question is whether Shanahan sees any of the top potentials as a suitable long-term replacement for Garoppolo. If so, which one do you like the most?

Simms has said in the past that he feels both Zach Wilson, who is expected to be selected in 2nd place overall, and Mac Jones would be solid matches for the 49ers offense.

Option three could be the more controversial suggestion. While Sam Darnold possesses physical attributes that surpass those of Garoppolo, there is a debate around his ceiling. Was Darnold limited by New York’s untalented lists or is his erratic game what we should expect even with a more talented list?

Darnold is still only 23 years old, and his salary offers considerable savings compared to Garoppolo’s. Is it still a better long-term solution? Garoppolo’s trade with Darnold would be a gamble.

The good news is that if Shanahan wants Darnold and the Jets want to move from quarterback, the head coach has a friend in New York – former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is now the Jets head coach. Of course, that doesn’t mean San Francisco could bring in a bargain price for Darnold. It may, however, make the process easier.

The 49ers quarterback options will continue to be a story until all off-season dominoes fall.