Jimmy Garoppolo trade might net 49ers a high draft pick

It’s no secret the 49ers plan to move Jimmy Garoppolo at some point in the near future, and recent speculation suggests an increase in compensation.

He hasn’t been the prime reason why the surging San Francisco 49ers have won three games in a row and four of their last five after 12 weeks this season.

But quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has experienced better play during that stretch, and the combination of his game-managing efforts and a dynamic running game has resulted in the Niners scoring 30-plus points in each of those four recent wins, getting back into the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Interestingly enough, though, a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport just ahead of San Francisco’s Week 12 win over the Minnesota Vikings stated the 49ers’ plan this offseason, barring a Super Bowl run, was to “start Trey Lance, trade Jimmy Garoppolo.”

Nothing exactly new from that report. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has repeatedly said Lance, the No. 3 overall pick from this year’s NFL Draft, is the future despite Garoppolo retaining his starting role this season.

Yet the timing of the report was somewhat provocative, and it prompted a rather interesting exchange between Garoppolo and the media after the game was over.

Again, nothing new here. Garoppolo knows he’s likely shown the door this offseason anyway. The writing has been on the wall ever since the Niners traded up for Lance.

But there’s always been the looming question of whether or not San Francisco could get anything in return for his services. And if so, what would it be?

Jimmy Garoppolo increasing his trade value for 49ers

When Jimmy G and the 49ers were struggling amid their four-game losing streak this offseason, it sure felt as if a would-be offseason trade wouldn’t offer much by the way of compensation. Garoppolo was already dealing with a calf injury, and it wasn’t as if his on-field play was enough to overcome what’s already been a lengthy history of injury-related setbacks anyway.

But Garoppolo’s recent five-game stretch has been good enough to increase his offseason value, and the stats back it up even if they’re little more than just quality game management:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 11/29/2021.

Nine combined touchdowns against two turnovers over a five-game stretch usually indicate high-quality play, and Garoppolo is notably a more effective quarterback when he’s not turning the ball over.

And with a shaky offseason quarterback market with limited options in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Niners may wind up hearing some decent offers for Garoppolo’s services this offseason.

Speculation 49ers could receive Round 2 NFL Draft pick for Jimmy Garoppolo

When Garoppolo was injured and/or struggling, it would have been fair to assume San Francisco might get little more than a day-three NFL Draft pick this offseason, assuming a trading partner would be willing to absorb what’s left of the $27 million owed to Garoppolo on the final year of his current contract and in light of his no-trade clause, which he’d have to waive.

Speaking on KNBR 680’s Murph & Mac Show (h/t 49ers Webzone) earlier this week, however, Rapoport continued on his initial report and suggested Garoppolo’s value should go up considerably:

"Obviously, they’ve had offers for Jimmy Garoppolo in the past. The most recent, I believe, was a third-rounder that they got [offered]. If he keeps playing like this, then they should be able to get more. I mean, they could actually end up getting back the second-rounder that they originally traded him for, which if you think about it, the second-rounder, plus all those years of service, plus a trip to the Super Bowl, that’s really good value in a trade."

The 49ers originally traded for Garoppolo back at the 2017 NFL trade deadline by shipping off a second-round pick to the New England Patriots.

Getting that back would be significant.

The Niners are without their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 because of the trade for Lance, but getting another Round 2 selection for Garoppolo would obviously be a huge boost for a team that still boasts plenty of needs this offseason.

Provided Garoppolo continues to play well enough, of course.