Jimmy Garoppolo: 4 trade partners if Aaron Rodgers retires
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo trade partner No. 4: Buccaneers
There’s only been a modest amount of speculation the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be in the running for Jimmy Garoppolo, and there hasn’t been any with regards to Aaron Rodgers.
The Bucs could, however, look to back up what was a highly successful two-year stretch of quarterbacking from now-retired future Hall of Famer Tom Brady with another Hall of Famer in the waiting in Rodgers. While it might sound lofty, Tampa Bay would be clearing a substantial chunk of Brady’s owed money for 2022, which would help absorb Rodgers’ post-trade contract, and Rodgers would likely waive his no-trade clause for a team still equipped to win now.
In short, going from Brady to Rodgers would be ideal for the Buccaneers if they could engineer it.
If Rodgers retires, though, the only backup option would be 2021 rookie Kyle Trask or the substandard idea of re-signing No. 2 quarterback Blaine Gabbert to helm a team that could still dominate a very weak NFC South.
Some may argue the Bucs need to see what they have in Trask. And while there’s an argument for that, Tampa Bay could fall back on another contingency option and make a trade for Garoppolo instead.
Jimmy G is no Rodgers, and no one would argue that. But he’s far more capable and competent than either Trask or Gabbert, and the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl window would remain open amid a bad division.