6 NFL teams that are a franchise quarterback away from being contenders

1. San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo helped turn the San Francisco 49ers into a team that was floundering into a Super Bowl team, but this year has made it clear that he’s not the future quarterback this team needs.

For one, he’s struggled to stay healthy during his time in San Francisco. He was healthy throughout the entire 2019 season and the Niners went to the Super Bowl as a result, but he’s missed time in all of his other seasons due to injury.

Without all of the injuries, Garoppolo is the weak link on the 49ers roster and him overthrowing Emmanuel Sanders in the Super Bowl is what ultimately lost them that game. San Francisco relied on their run game and their defense to get them to that point and Garoppolo couldn’t step up and make the throw when it was needed the most.

In a division as tough as the NFC West, the Niners are going nowhere this year with all of the injuries they have. Their defense is going to get back to form next year though and the run game will still be solid, but the team might consider finding its next answer at quarterback.

Garoppolo hasn’t impressed this season and the team has had its fair share of injuries, sure, but a franchise quarterback overcomes that.