Jimmy Garoppolo: 4 trade partners if Aaron Rodgers retires

Jimmy Garoppolo trade partner No. 1: Broncos

Seemingly the overwhelming favorite to engineer an offseason blockbuster trade for Aaron Rodgers, the Denver Broncos are one of those AFC teams that needs a proven signal-caller.

Especially within a tough AFC West that’ll feature quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and a resurgent Derek Carr heading into 2022.

Sure, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the mix, too, and they can’t be discounted after watching quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retire. But of the teams largely impacted by a would-be Rodgers retirement, it’s hard to list anyone else but Denver at No. 1.

If the Broncos were able to trade for Rodgers, who’d join his former Green Bay offensive coordinator and now-Denver head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, they’d immediately contend with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, finally getting out of what seems like a yearly third- or fourth-place finish within the division.

Yet the Niners also have a good trade history with Denver, thanks to general manager John Lynch’s relationships there, meaning Jimmy Garoppolo could be another contingency option to replace the Broncos’ quarterbacking options from 2021, Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock.

Armed with two second-round picks in 2022, Denver wouldn’t have too much of an issue trading for Garoppolo and upgrading the position.

Provided Rodgers is off the table by way of retirement, of course.