If the 49ers next quarterback can’t be Bay Area neighbor Derek Carr, then maybe it will be fellow 2014 draft product Jimmy Garoppolo, the two who rated highest coming out of college in Kyle Shanahan’s mind.

Garoppolo will be the New England Patriots backup quarterback for at least one more game — Sunday’s Super Bowl — before possibly hitting the trade market. Meanwhile, Shanahan will be the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator for one more game — Sunday’s Super bowl — before taking the 49ers coaching job, by all expectations.

Did Shanahan really like Garoppolo while scouting him as the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator in 2014?

“Yes, I did,” Shanahan told reporters Thursday at the Falcons media session in Houston, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

“He was a very good thrower,” Shanahan added. “Tough guy, kept his eyes down the field, could get rid of the ball fast. Really liked the person.”

Shanahan instead got saddled with Johnny Manziel, who then-Browns general manager Ray Farmer selected with the No. 22 overall pick. Blake Bortles went No. 3 to Jacksonville, Teddy Bridgewater No. 32 to Minnesota, Carr No. 36 to the Raiders and Garoppolo No. 62 to New England.

While Manziel is an NFL outcast, Garoppolo could be this offseason’s hottest commodity, if the Patriots are willing to deal him before he enters the final year of his rookie deal. The Browns still could use a bona fide quarterback; they hold the No. 1 overall draft pick ahead of the 49ers at No. 2.

Garoppolo started the Patriots’ first two games this season — in place of a suspended Tom Brady — before sustaining a shoulder sprain. The Chicago Bears, CBS Sports reported, are expected to make a strong push for Garoppolo, an Illinois native.

“It’s been a great deal for him I’m sure in the situation he is, being behind Tom, seeing how they do it,” Shanahan said. “I’m sure when he does get his opportunity whether it’s earlier this year in the two games he played or possibly next year, who knows what will happen — I’m sure he’ll be ready.”

Colin Kaepernick is the only quarterback under contract with the 49ers for 2017, although he could opt out and test free agency in a month and join a market that will include 49ers teammates Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder. Odds are the 49ers will start the season with their fourth different quarterback in six years, seeing how Alex Smith opened the 2012 campaign, followed by Kaepernick the next three years before Gabbert’s shot this past season.

Another option in free agency could be Kirk Cousins, assuming Washington doesn’t place the franchise tag on him a second straight year. Shanahan was Washington’s offensive coordinator when Cousins got drafted in 2010, and a reunion could be enticing.

“I’ll tell ya, it’s good to be wanted. So hopefully down the road there will be people wanting me,” Cousins told KNBR 680-AM on Thursday. “”But we’ll see how it all plays out.

“The unique thing with the franchise tag is if the Redskins choose to place that on me, then I’m pretty much off the market,” Cousins added. “So we’ll see what they choose to do on March 1st. And the ball is in their court, along those lines, but based on that, I’ll react accordingly.”

Washington officials have publicly said they intend to keep Cousins.

“Kirk is a natural thrower who’s fearless and lets it rip,” Shanahan said.. “(As for) guys who can process and go fast in the pocket, Kirk’s as good as anybody.”

Shanahan knows how vital a quarterback is, having helped Matt Ryan lead the Falcons to Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“Everybody wants to have a great quarterback right away, but if it were easy to have one, everyone would have one.,” Shanahan added.