49ers 7-round mock NFL Draft after trading Jimmy Garoppolo

In our first mock of the 49ers offseason, Niner Noise looks at which prospects may be brought aboard in the 2022 NFL Draft after a Jimmy Garoppolo trade.

For all intents and purposes, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo likely just played his final game with the San Francisco 49ers, a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2022 NFC Championship game.

Sure, there might be a slim chance the Niners retain Jimmy G next season and delay the inevitable starting reign of their top pick from last year’s NFL Draft, quarterback Trey Lance, for another season. But even if that was a realistic plausibility, San Francisco’s need to re-sign and extend other talents on the roster means freeing up the bulk of the $27 million owed to Garoppolo in 2022 will be a top priority.

Additionally, with the 49ers surrendering first- and third-round picks in 2022 to get Lance, general manager John Lynch would like to recoup some draft capital this offseason, and moving Garoppolo helps with that.

Especially in what’s shaping up to be a weak offseason quarterback market, both in terms of free agency and the NFL Draft itself.

In Niner Noise’s first mock draft of the offseason, we take a look at all seven rounds and predict what Lynch and Co. will do in the wake of trading Garoppolo this offseason.

First, the trade that’ll likely take place long before Round 1 of the draft kicks off in late April.

49ers add to 2022 NFL Draft stockpile by trading Jimmy Garoppolo to Steelers

Garoppolo’s trade value certainly increased with the Niners winning two playoff games, and a cold quarterback market could create a bit of a bidding war.

One of those teams potentially in the hunt is the Pittsburgh Steelers, a perennial playoff contender that still has to build a better run defense and offensive line but will be looking for some continuity in the wake of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.

Armed with a projected six picks in the 2022 draft, Pittsburgh dishes out its second-round selection for Jimmy G.

San Francisco would still be without a first-round selection, but having two Round 2 picks helps make up for that.

Including the projected compensatory picks (those will be announced later this spring), the 49ers would have nine total selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as follows:

• Round 2, No. 52 overall (from Steelers)
• Round 2, No. 61 overall
• Round 3, No. 93 overall
• Round 4, No. 130 overall
• Round 5, No. 170 overall
• Round 6, No. 186 overall (from Broncos)
• Round 7, No. 251 overall (compensatory)
• Round 7, No. 254 overall (compensatory)
• Round 7, No. 260 overall (compensatory)

Adding to the speculation and fun, we’ll use The Draft Network’s mock drafting tool for all seven rounds.

Let’s go.