Lynch added that chance is still there for Garoppolo to compete for the starting job

Drafting a quarterback has proven to be a touchy subject for some NFL teams (especially if you’re the Packers), but San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch says all is great in the Bay Area following the team exchanged for rookie Trey Lance.

Lynch appeared in “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Tuesday to discuss the draft in which the Niners shockingly drafted former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance over the reigning national champion, Mac Jones.

The move fueled speculation surrounding Jimmy Garoppolo’s future on the team but Lynch said the quarterback understood from the start where the team was headed — and their plans to keep him.

“I believe Jimmy’s got a excellent confidence in myself and Kyle (Shanahan),” Lynch explained. “I believe you make this, and I think from day one, we’ve been very upfront with Jimmy. When I moved to Jimmy, I told him the truth. Like,’Look, we’ve decided that we are going to engage in a quarterback this offseason. You know, Jimmy, once you’ve played, you’ve been tremendous, and the record speaks to that. We feel like there’s room for expansion. The biggest thing is it’s hard to keep you on the area.'”

Lynch stated Garoppolo took the news very well.

“That is not an easy thing to tell a participant but Jimmy took it exceptionally. And my other commitment was,’But here’s the fantastic news, Jimmy. We do not want you to go anywhere. We want you to be here, and our possession has made the commitment which we can do that. We can fit it in our cap, and we think it’s a good position for you; likely not the one that you finally wish to hear.”

He added that chance is still there for Garoppolo to compete for the starting job — signaling that a decision has not yet been made for Week 1.

“‘I’m sure that you are interested in being the long-term man. There’s a flip side to that. You still could be,'” Lynch said he told him. “Since he is going to have a chance to compete and make that occupation, and we’re just going to let that play out. However, Jimmy’s a really good football player.”

Over the last three seasons, the quarterback missed 23 games as a result of significant injuries, such as a sprained right shoulder, a torn ACL, and two high ankle sprains.