Jimmy Garoppolo: 3 new teams that could want 49ers QB in 2022

No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo to the New Orleans Saints

Just as the Niners experienced with an absent Jimmy Garoppolo from the roster in 2018 and for much of 2020, the New Orleans Saints are realizing how a good-enough roster won’t automatically overcome injury deficiencies at quarterback.

With veteran signal-caller Jameis Winston out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, a free agent with voided years in 2022 and 2023 anyway, the Saints essentially have only two forefront options moving forward that don’t involve finding a high-profile rookie draft pick:

1. Hope that backup quarterback Trevor Siemian somehow turns it around (he won’t)
2. Hope gadget-quarterback Taysom Hill turns into an actual quarterback (he won’t)

New Orleans is still challenged with cap-space issues, just $1.6 million left in 2021 and $56 million in the red in 2022, so it’s likely the Saints would have to follow a similar path as the Panthers would, should they see Garoppolo as a plausible fit after a would-be San Francisco release.

Yet this might arguably be the best situation for Jimmy G to enter out of the three, considering head coach Sean Payton is widely regarded as one of the league’s better offensive play-callers with an offensive supporting cast that, at least before cap-saving cuts, would at least play to Garoppolo’s merits.

It’s all conjecture, yes. But don’t be shocked if a team like New Orleans suddenly finds itself in the mix for Jimmy G’s services in 2022.