While the Browns hope to unload Baker Mayfield soon the 49ers settle for slowplay Jimmy Garoppolo trade. San Francisco is poised to go through free agency with a $26.9 million Garoppolo cap on their books, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting that the veteran QB market hasn’t taken off.
49ers holding Garoppolo for a few more weeks could give them an opportunity to appreciate even more Trey Lancewillingness to take over the reins of the opposing team. But it doesn’t look like the team is considering Garoppolo as an insurance plan for 2022. Lance is under the impression that he will be a full-time San Francisco starter next season, Fowler adds, while San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch also points out that Garoppolo will almost certainly be gone by the first week.
Garoppolo, 30, like Mayfield, has seen several QB1 slots filled with long-term options or bridge players. Teams are also concerned about Garoppolo’s shoulder surgery, which will see him take a backseat until the summer. Fowler adds that the Colts were not involved in particularly serious discussions about Garoppolo. Indianapolis has been associated with Jamis Winston and, to some extent, Mayfield before moving to Matt Ryan.
This report seems to contradict Tuesday’s report that the 49ers received an offer of two second-round picks for Garoppolo. This catch that will match what the Chiefs gave the 49ers for Alex Smith in 2013 will likely satisfy San Francisco. The route from Mayfield to Carolina is all but closed while the Seahawks are still in sight of the ousted starting Cleveland. The Seahawks are unlikely to acquire Garoppolo as an NFC West team.
San Francisco has less than $4 million in equity, so the Garoppolo deal would benefit the franchise, which has already raised nearly $20 million to complete previous deals. The team plans to expand Deebo Samuel as well as Nick Boza will also be in the spotlight after Garoppolo, with Lance bound by a rookie contract until 2024.