Jimmy Garoppolo: 3 trade spots for 49ers QB before Week 1
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Destination No. 3: Houston Texans
There’s no other way around it, but the Houston Texans are a mess heading into 2021. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is at extreme odds with the front office and didn’t report to minicamp. And even if the bridge is mended somehow, which seems unlikely, Watson’s off-field legal challenges likely prevent him from playing at all this season anyway.
Simply put, don’t count on Watson returning to Houston in any capacity.
Jimmy Garoppolo has a no-trade clause, which is important to acknowledge. But despite being a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Garoppolo already showed back in 2017 how he can help a rebuilding franchise turn things around in relatively shorter order.
Unless Houston is 100-percent comfortable rolling out with veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor or the third-round rookie, Davis Mills, in an otherwise lost season.
On top of that, Texans general manager Nick Caserio has a prior working relationship with Garoppolo from their days together with the Patriots. Caserio is familiar with Garoppolo’s strengths, and head coach David Culley’s run-first offense wouldn’t be too unlike what Jimmy G experienced in San Francisco under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Now, Houston has just under $5 million in available cap space right now, so there’d have to be some massive cap creativity there.
But if the Texans want to avoid being the laughingstock of the NFL this season and beyond, making a move for Garoppolo could help.