49ers NFL Draft: 3 helpful trades John Lynch could make
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers trade Jimmy Garoppolo to Patriots
Let’s just get this out of the way because it’s going to be the subject of speculation until it either happens or doesn’t.
John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated their commitment to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the press conference shortly after the Niners moved up to No. 3 overall in the draft order.
It makes sense in many ways. Asking a rookie to come in and lead a playoff-ready team within one of the most complex offenses in the league is a tall order. And while San Francisco will want to move Garoppolo at some point, it’s not like his trade value is extremely high right now after missing all but six games last year with multiple ankle injuries.
But depending on which quarterback the 49ers draft, and more importantly, whether or not the New England Patriots get “their guy” at the position in Round 1, the thought of Jimmy G reuniting with his former head coach, Bill Belichick, isn’t going away.
And if the offer is good enough, the Niners may be willing to sell as high as possible on Garoppolo anyway.
Reports previously stated San Francisco is seeking a first-round pick for Garoppolo. But in all reality, the 49ers aren’t going to get that kind of compensation unless it’s from an awfully desperate team.
The Pats, with quarterback Cam Newton already in town and with less than $17 million in available cap space, according to Over the Cap, don’t need to be desperate. But the context would change slightly if Belichick would be willing to offer up two day-two picks, a 2021 second-round selection and a conditional 2022 Round 3 pick that would turn into a second-round selection if Garoppolo met some sort of criteria like starting 14 games and/or passing for 3,000 yards.
With the move, the Niners would be relying on a rookie sooner than anticipated, yes. But they’d clear $23.6 million from Garoppolo’s contract and would avoid any distraction the media may press on either Jimmy G or the team with a high-profile rookie QB on the roster.