© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Once Kyle Shanahan was named 49ers head coach prior to the 2017 season, it seemed obvious he would eventually pursue quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2018 free agency. The pair worked together in Washington for three seasons, and Shanahan consistently voiced his affinity for Cousins.
Then the 49ers negotiated with the New England Patriots midway through the season, orchestrated a deal that sent a 2018 second-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo, and the rest is history. Garoppolo led the underperforming 49ers to a five-game winning streak to close the season, and then signed an NFL-record $137.5 million contract last month.
But Garoppolo wasn’t originally Lynch and Shanahan’s top choice. On Tuesday, Lynch elaborated on the 49ers’ initial plan that featured Cousins on ESPN’s ‘Golic and Wingo Show.’
“We made the (Garoppolo) trade, but then there were some days when Kyle Shanahan was like in mourning, because I think everybody knows his master plan was to have Kirk Cousins come in eventually,” Lynch said. “I was proud of Kyle, because I think he knew this was the right thing for our franchise. And he didn’t hesitate. But even then, Jimmy had to really prove himself.”
That’s an unusually transparent statement coming from an NFL general manager, considering Lynch’s current investment in Garoppolo.
It’s clear Lynch is ecstatic to have Garoppolo, who has become a central selling point for the 49ers in free agency. But what’s noteworthy about the Lynch soundbite is that he stated Garoppolo was the the second option, and “had to really prove himself.”
After the trade went through in early November, it seemed Shanahan was as happy with acquiring Garoppolo as he would have been with Cousins.
“Everyone knows how I feel about Kirk,” Shanahan told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “And for anybody who knows how I feel about Kirk, I think this shows how I feel about Jimmy, the fact that we ended up doing this.”
Shanahan certainly would’ve never admitted to being “in mourning,” as Lynch said on Tuesday.
Cousins was was the most coveted quarterback free agent signing this offseason after producing 4,000-yard passing seasons in the past three seasons. Last week, he signed a five-year contract that includes $84 million guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings.
The 49ers and Vikings will play in the upcoming season.
