Santa Clara – Kyle Shanahan liked Jimmy Garoppolo going all the way back four years when he was the offensive coordinator in Cleveland and was scouting quarterbacks for the Browns. Shanahan evaluated Garoppolo when he was breaking Tony Romo’s records at Eastern Illinois.
“We met a couple of times (during the draft process),” Garoppolo said Tuesday. “I felt there was a connection there.”
What Shanahan liked was Garoppolo’s movement and throwing ability. He continued to like him when Garoppolo got a chance to play with the Patriots over the last four years.
“First of all, it starts with his ability. He has the ability to make plays with his legs, he’s a thrower, he stays in that pocket and keeps his eyes down field and is up for any challenge,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan also liked what he heard from others about his new quarterback.
“Watching him in the regular season …. he’s exactly the player we hoped he could be,” Shanahan said. “How he handles himself, how he carries himself. What people say about him as a man as a leader, he’s exactly the type of guy you are looking for.”
Those are the reasons that Shanahan and Lynch believe Garoppolo is the 49ers’ next franchise quarterback.