The most likely scenario is for the San Francisco 49ers to enter the 2021 season with Jimmy Garoppolo in the center. While CEO John Lynch has recently committed to this as the current plan, he hasn’t stopped the rampant speculation that the team is still looking for an update.

Chris Simms of NBC Sports has expressed concern about the availability of Garoppolo. The quarterback has lost 23 games in the last three seasons due to injuries. When he is there, however, 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 guide the 49ers to a 13-3 record, the NFC West crown and an appearance in the Super Bowl.

Simms believes San Francisco could resist to improve on the quarterback position. With anyone else, this could only be presented to another analyst with an opinion. Still, Simms is a close friend of Kyle Shanahan and can understand the thinking of the 49ers coaches better than most. Although Simms admits that Shanahan often refuses to share with him any inside information related to football due to his position in the media.

What options does Simms have for Shanahan and the 49ers to upgrade the quarterback? He shared three scenarios via Twitter (h / ta Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated). By the way, none involved Deshaun Watson.

The first seems to be a more prudent option. It probably assumes that San Francisco sees Garoppolo as a possible long-term solution. Of course, the 49ers asking about other quarterbacks this offseason makes many wonder if that’s the case.

Lynch recently stated that the team should have a better backup plan in case Garoppolo gets lost again. The 49ers tried unsuccessfully to boost the season last year with Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard, who were largely ineffective substitutes. It may be ideal to add a more capable backup.

The second option would not necessarily result in Garoppolo’s immediate exit. San Francisco could incorporate a quarterback and allow him to sit for a season and learn behind the veteran, who already has a good understanding of offense. The real question is whether Shanahan sees any of the key prospects as a suitable long-term replacement for Garoppolo. If so, which ones or more do you like?

Simms has said in the past that he feels both Zach Wilson, who is expected to be selected to No. 2 overall, and Mac Jones would be a suitable fit for the 49ers offense.

Option three might be the most controversial suggestion. Although Sam Darnold possesses physical attributes that surpass those of Garoppolo, there is some debate around his roof. Was Darnold limited by private talent lists in New York, or is his erratic game what one would expect even with a more talented list?

Darnold is still only 23 years old and his salary offers considerable savings compared to Garoppolo’s. But is it a better long-term solution? Changing Garoppolo for 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 can get Darnold at a reasonable price. However, it can make the process easier.

The 49ers quarterback options will continue to be a story until all of the low season dominoes fall.