Maybe it’s an open-and-shut case.
Perhaps the 49ers are fully committed to bringing back quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his scheduled $25.5 million pay for next season.
If the 49ers have no intention of moving on from Garoppolo, they can make some conversions to his contract to lower his cap number while pushing some of his cap impact to 2022.
But, ultimately, the 49ers have to decide between one of two options: What the roster would look like with Garoppolo, and what the roster would look like without Garoppolo.
If the 49ers decide to pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency or a trade, they can structure a deal with the new QB where a great deal of cap space is saved in 2020. But which quarterbacks might be available for them to consider adding? The answer to that question will likely drive their decision.
Garoppolo has entered three seasons as the 49ers’ starting quarterback. Essentially, he missed two of those seasons due to injuries. The one year he remained on the field, the 49ers went to the Super Bowl.
After keeping the quarterback room virtually unchanged for 3 1/2 seasons, the 49ers will certainly change up some things next year.
The draft is a roll of the dice because of where the 49ers will be selecting, and which quarterbacks might or might not be available when it is their turn to pick. And if they decide to trade up to get someone Shanahan targets, that will cost a price, too.
Nick Mullens seemed to be a good bet to return as a restricted free agent to compete for the backup job. Now, his status for next season is in question. Shanahan said it appears likely Mullens will require Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm. That recovery could impact his status for the start of 2022.
C.J. Beathard will get the start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. He still has a chance to make a case for returning as an unrestricted free agent to compete for a roster spot.
The 49ers on Tuesday agreed to terms with Josh Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The 49ers are his fourth team in three seasons. He will get a few practices and meeting time before the end of the season with his new club as a tryout.
It’s a good bet Rosen will sign a futures contract at the end of the season. He could go through an entire offseason and training camp with the 49ers and make a run at winning a roster spot in 2021.
The decisions made at quarterback -- and how it impacts their cap situation and draft status -- will set the stage for how the 49ers approach every aspect of their offseason.