NFL Quarterback Power Rankings 2020: Patrick Mahomes is head of the class

At his point, Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL. Fans either believe he’s a borderline Pro Bowler who played a large role in getting his franchise to the Super Bowl last year, or they view the 28-year-old as a product of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system. The reality sits somewhere in the middle.

Garoppolo proved he can win big games last year when he threw for 349 and four touchdowns in a 48-46 shootout against the New Orleans Saints. While he did throw an interception in that game, Garoppolo also completed 74.3 percent of his pass attempts. On the other hand, the 49ers simply muscled their way through several games last season, without need for their quarterback.

For instance, the 49ers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20 despite Garoppolo turning the ball over three times. San Francisco also fought to a 34-31 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, despite Garoppolo turning the ball over twice and completing fewer than 60.0 percent of his pass attempts.

Perhaps the most egregious instance of the 49ers proving they didn’t need Garoppolo came in the Divisional Round, where the quarterback only threw the ball eight times for 77 yards. San Francisco still defeated the Green Bay Packers in a one-sided 37-20 affair.

Garoppolo also struggled in the playoffs, throwing three interceptions and only two touchdowns. On a potential game-changing play in the Super Bowl, Garoppolo missed an open Emmanuel Sanders on a deep route that should’ve resulted in a touchdown. In the title game, Garoppolo threw two interceptions.

Overall, Garoppolo is a decent quarterback who can play at a high level sometimes. However, he’s nowhere close to the elite tier of quarterbacks in the NFL.