Just over a year ago, the San Francisco 49ers were scrambling for quarterbacking options heading into the 2017 NFL Draft. They eventually settled on veteran free agents Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, while also tabbing former Iowa prospect C.J. Beathard in Round 3.
What a difference a year makes.
The midseason trade for Jimmy Garoppolo changed the entire landscape of the franchise. Hoyer is gone, and Barkley never made the 53-man roster.
Meanwhile, Garoppolo appears to be the next franchise-elite signal-caller in the making. At least the Niners hope so.