Jimmy Garoppolo to the Jets? C’mon, that’s too bold a take

The Jets haven’t been previously linked to 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but CBS Sports is suddenly listing Gang Green as ‘favorites.’

By the time the San Francisco 49ers trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, there might be a good chance he’ll be linked to about 25 of the 32 teams in the league.

At least that’s the way things have felt ever since the Niners’ season came to a crashing halt with the devastating loss in the 2022 NFC Championship game.

True, Garoppolo will have a market. Perhaps a big one, especially in light of many a quarterback-needy team in the hunt for a starting-caliber signal-caller amid a quarterbacking market that’s not particularly great this offseason, either in free agency or the NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers make a lot of sense. Perhaps the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too. Heck, maybe Jimmy G follows former offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to the Miami Dolphins.

But the New York Jets? Seriously?

Someone find that Tom Hanks shocked-face gif, please.

CBS Sports lists Jets as ‘favorites’ to land Jimmy Garoppolo

There’s a difference between rumor and speculation, and the following breakdown of Jimmy G trade destinations by CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin (h/t The Jet Press) falls into the latter category.

His opinion. Not what he’s hearing. At least that’s what we’d conclude.

At any rate, Benjamin listed the Jets as a team potentially hot on the trail for a would-be Garoppolo trade this offseason, stating the following:

"No, they’re not ready to give up on Zach Wilson, but GM Joe Douglas should know the value of a good veteran backup plan after 2021. Coach Robert Saleh is familiar with Garoppolo from San Francisco, as is offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator from 2017-2020. Call it a Ryan Tannehill-style play for an emergency option."

Halting the desire to laugh for a second, let’s find merit where possible.

Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick from last year’s draft, wasn’t good in 2021. Granted, the BYU product’s supporting cast wasn’t exactly great, and both Saleh and LaFleur were trying to navigate their way through first-year tenures in their respective positions. And, sure, both Saleh and LaFleur know Garoppolo well from their days together in the Bay Area.

New York, owners of two first-round draft picks this year, including No. 4 overall, have both plenty of trade ammunition and cap space to make and absorb a Garoppolo deal.

But going that route simply won’t make sense. At all.

No, 49ers aren’t going to trade Jimmy Garoppolo to Jets

Garoppolo made it clear during his end-of-year press conference how he wants to go to a destination that prioritizes winning.

It sounds cliche, yes, but the Jets are far from being a winner. Even though San Francisco technically doesn’t owe Garoppolo anything as it prepares to open the door for Trey Lance to be the franchise quarterback, sending Jimmy G packing to a lowly Gang Green squad would be among the lowest of low blows to Garoppolo.

A message that would unquestionably reverberate throughout the 49ers locker room.

Related Story: What will 49ers get if they trade Jimmy Garoppolo?

Sure, New York might be convinced Wilson isn’t the guy moving forward. There is a precedent for a highly drafted quarterback being dismissed after just one year (see the Arizona Cardinals with Josh Rosen after 2018).

But, unless the Jets went all-in on a franchise-changing talent like the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers or Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson, giving up on Zach Wilson now makes little sense.

If the Jets prove everyone wrong and trade for Garoppolo, that’d be one of the biggest shockers in recent NFL history.