49ers rumors: 3 likely trading spots for Jimmy Garoppolo during NFL Draft

49ers Trade Partner No. 1: Chicago Bears

While both the Patriots and Broncos have good enough reasons to inquire about a would-be trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, one of the teams that make the most sense to ask the Niners is the Chicago Bears.

New England and Denver are both in better positions to either trade up for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft or hopefully let someone slip to them at pick Nos. 15 and 9, respectively. The Bears, meanwhile, don’t have much of a shot at this at No. 20 overall. At least not by mortgaging off a significant chunk of their draft capital for the next few seasons.

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But with head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace on the hot seat in 2021, and with rostered quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Nick Foles surely not the answers, a move for Garoppolo could be the best plausible move to get Chicago’s offense back to some form of respectability.

It’s been discussed before, too, by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco:

"From the Bears, a deal for Garoppolo could net them 2019 third-rounder David Montgomery, a pass-catching running back who fits Shanahan’s scheme, and the No. 83 overall pick. The 49ers would almost certainly be open to considering any trade involving Garoppolo — if the price is right."

Garoppolo is from the Chicago area and still has family close by, so that alone might be attractive enough for him to waive his no-trade clause. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s reported softening on an asking price, as suggested by Peter King, could mean a third-round pick in return would be enough to send back to the 49ers. Especially if another player is involved.

Regardless, if any Garoppolo trade is to take place, it would likely happen after Round 1 is complete. Or at the very least, towards the tail end of it after teams like the Patriots, Broncos and Bears have made their first-round selections and the dust from the first round has mostly settled.