49ers news: 5 possible trade partners for Jimmy Garoppolo

49ers Trade Partner No. 4: Houston Texans

While Jimmy Garoppolo’s future with the Niners is cloudy at best, at least this season, the Texans’ relationship with their star quarterback, Deshaun Watson, has turned into an unmitigated disaster, magnified further by his own off-field allegations of sexual misconduct and how the team has handled matters.

The Dolphins are repeatedly viewed as Watson suitors, though, and such a deal would do two things, at least from San Francisco’s perspective: cross Miami off the list of potential Jimmy G trade partners but at the expense of opening up Houston as a possible landing spot, both financially and in terms of positional need.

Yes, the Texans are bad. They’ve got a long way to go for a rebuild. But general manager Nick Caserio, who has a relationship with Garoppolo from their time together with the New England Patriots, has focused on rebuilding Houston’s running game. That’ll be a plus for Garoppolo, who shouldn’t be seen as a valued option in a pass-happy offense.

Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a stopgap option. And while he’s flashed some modest promise, rookie signal-caller Davis Mills is, at best, a high-end backup option. Not a true starter.

Sure, Garoppolo probably wouldn’t be thrilled about going to yet another fully rebuilding team after doing so with the 49ers in 2017.

But, with Watson’s cap hit off the books, at least Jimmy G could still command the bulk of his 2022 salary.