Jimmy Garoppolo: 3 reasons 49ers QB starts for all of 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers are already budgeting Jimmy Garoppolo’s cap hit for 2022
Even those who think Jimmy Garoppolo is a goner in 2022 might want to take a step back from that prediction.
According to The Athletic’s David Lombardi, the 49ers front office isn’t currently scrambling to offload Jimmy G’s hefty salary anytime soon:
Let Garoppolo/Lance point many are missing ⬇️
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 8, 2021
Full cap breakdown: https://t.co/teufSK6Ejc pic.twitter.com/0fDLFUec8i
Currently, according to Over the Cap, the Niners have $17.75 million in available cap space, which doesn’t include Trey Lance’s pending rookie contract and the team’s second- and third-overall picks, offensive guard Aaron Banks and running back Trey Sermon.
But the kicker is 2022 when San Francisco is projected to have $23.73 million but with a good deal of free agents and other players needed to be extended, such as All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.
The short run of the story is this: The 49ers know they can clear $25.6 million in 2022 with only $1.4 million in dead money if Garoppolo is moved, but they aren’t automatically going to do that based on a premature hope Lance will secure the starting job.
Instead, they’re keeping their options open.