49ers won’t trade Jimmy Garoppolo to Colts despite QB need

The Colts may need a quarterback with Carson Wentz out, but the 49ers aren’t going to be able to move Jimmy Garoppolo there in a pre-Week 1 deal.

For all the quarterback controversy the San Francisco 49ers seem to be dealing with right now, all one needs to do is look at the Indianapolis Colts and their situation with their new starter, Carson Wentz, to alleviate any massive concern.

Wentz, the one-time No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick who eventually flamed out with the Philadelphia Eagles after showing some initial star power early in his career, was hoping to revive his career in Indy under his former Philly offensive coordinator and now-Colts head coach Frank Reich after joining the team this offseason.

Now, Wentz is dealing with a foot injury that’ll require surgery and likely sideline him between five to 12 weeks.

Not good for a Colts team jockeying for positioning within a wide-open AFC South.

Second-year pro Jacob Eason immediately appears to be the favorite to land an initial starting job for the Colts this season, while rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger has to be in the running, too.

Unless Indianapolis makes a move in advance of Week 1.

49ers can’t entice Colts to take on Jimmy Garoppolo

Getting back to Niners-related content, it didn’t take long for an argument to develop that San Francisco might ship off one of their two starting-candidate quarterbacks, Jimmy Garoppolo, to the Colts in the wake of Wentz’s injury.

Garoppolo is looking directly over his shoulder at the 49ers’ top pick in this year’s draft, Trey Lance, who is the heir apparent, whereas Garoppolo is a lame-duck signal-caller.

If the Niners don’t move Garoppolo now, they will at some point in the uncertain future.

There are two big problems with this, however, at least for those initially thinking the Colts would be desperate suitors. For starters, that would-be post-trade $25 million cap number Garoppolo would assume with his new team.

But the Colts have cap space, right? Well, the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman’s response to Pro Football Talk’s call for a Jimmy G-to-Indy deal pretty much sums things up:

No, San Francisco wouldn’t eat some of that cap hit to ship Garoppolo off. And, no, the Colts wouldn’t slash and burn their roster to absorb the cap hit either.

Hot Read: 3 potential trade spots for Jimmy Garoppolo before Week 1

On top of that, should the Colts want to trade for Garoppolo but would do so only upon the contingency of reworking Jimmy G’s deal to a more affordable rate, it’s important to acknowledge Garoppolo has a no-trade clause worked into his contract, too, and he could easily void the deal in the event he knew Indy wanted to alter what he’s currently scheduled to make.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you view it, the entire context of a would-be 49ers-Colts trade involving Garoppolo doesn’t mesh whatsoever.

Leaving Garoppolo’s situation right at the status quo where it is now.