49ers: 3 available quarterbacks better than Jimmy Garoppolo

2. Kirk Cousins

Before the 49ers traded for Garoppolo at the 2017 trade deadline, the tea leaves pointed to them pursuing Cousins when he hit free agency the following March. Shanahan was Washington’s offensive coordinator for four seasons (2010-2013), overlapping with Cousins for the last two of those years.

Cousins only made four starts for Washington with Shanahan running the offense in 2012 and 2013, as the full transition to him from Robert Griffin III as the starter didn’t come until 2015.

But Cousins has continued to run a Shanahan-rooted offense in Minnesota over the last couple seasons, with Gary Kubiak in place as an advisor (2019) and then offensive coordinator (2020). He has been one of the best play-action passers in the NFL, and that is a root part of the 49ers’ offense.

The 49ers may have already made an offer for Cousins that included Garoppolo, which seemed to prompt Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to declare, as I paraphrase slightly, that he’s “our guy.” But Shanahan clearly still thinks highly of Cousins, and even those who are down on Cousins have to acknowledge he’s a better quarterback than Garoppolo.