LA Rams: How will the NFC West Division stack up at season’s end?

Golden Gate gives goodbye to Garoppolo

The big question heading into the 2022 season was who would ultimately start for the San Francisco 49ers. As the smoke cleared, General Manager John Lynch finally settled once again on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

As the offseason got rolling after the Niners lost to the LA Rams in the NFC Championship Game, all eyes in the Bay Area were on their future quarterback, Trey Lance. Meanwhile, Garoppolo elected to have corrective shoulder surgery, which caught the 49ers brass off guard.

That operation on his throwing effectively scuttled any chance for San Francisco to pursue a trade involving Garoppolo to this point.  Without the medical clearance to throw, and the opportunity for potential trade partners to see the goods that they may be trading substantial value to acquire, negotiations for trade went nowhere.

For 49ers fans, this could pan out to be a win-win situation. While the flirtation with Lance was interesting, it’s hard to imagine why the 49ers would make such an unnecessary and short-sighted change. The quarterback position, being what it is, dictates a team go with their best option. Garoppolo was always the best option.

However, the dam may have broken, as the 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has gotten medical clearance to throw once more. That has prompted the 49ers to give the green light to both Garoppolo and his agent to seek a trading partner.

The Rams catch a break with San Francisco in a precarious offensive situation. Granted, their NFC West rival in the Bay Area has always provided a battle for Los Angeles, but that probably won’t be the case in 2022. The Niners may manage a split with the Rams, but that is the best they can hope for.
Regular season prediction: 10-7