3 reasons why SF 49ers won’t move Jimmy Garoppolo
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Deshaun Watson or nothing for SF 49ers
Trading for Matthew Stafford would be one thing. Having the chance to land Deshaun Watson would be another.
At 25 years old, Watson led the league in passing yards last season with 4,823 yards despite a poorish supporting offensive cast and ineffective head coaching. The three-time Pro Bowler is already one of the NFL’s best up-and-coming stars, and one could argue probably 30-or-so teams around the league would love to have his services.
Stafford’s deal will only likely drive any would-be asking price from the Texans into the exorbitant range, possibly pushing the SF 49ers out of the picture.
After that, the market for a quarterback trade becomes awfully thin. Neither Carson Wentz nor Sam Darnold should be viewed as upgrades over Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Niners aren’t in a position where they can take a chance on a reclamation project anyway. Not if they view their Super Bowl window as currently open. As far as the idea the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins would be an option, he’s essentially in the same player category as Garoppolo but would cost even more, $30 million in 2021, meaning San Francisco would have to surrender compensation and dish out more money than they would to Jimmy G.
No, those potential moves don’t make sense either.