The 49ers may wait to decide on trading Jimmy Garoppolo until Aaron Rodgers decides his future, potentially pushing these four teams into the fray.
Both the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have made it noticeably clear the veteran signal-caller is going to be dealt this offseason to a new team by the way of a trade.
There’s also no shortage of potential suitors for Jimmy G’s services, as the 2022 free-agent class at quarterback isn’t good, and there’s also less-than-desirable options atop the NFL Draft, too.
Yet Garoppolo isn’t the most talked-about quarterback potentially on the move this offseason. Not even close.
That moniker goes to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers set the speculation mill ablaze over the weekend with a somewhat-cryptic post on his Instagram account, thanking a number of people both within and outside the NFL, leading some to believe he’d potentially retire this offseason:
While Rodgers didn’t directly infer retirement within the post, it surely got people thinking. And it took Rodgers’ Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show to clear things up.
At least to a modest point:
Aaron Rodgers on @PatMcAfeeShow says he is not going to make a call on his future today.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 22, 2022
Rodgers’ status is still very much up in the air, yet he remains a No. 1 quarterback to watch on the offseason trade-rumor mill. The Packers could be in a position to trade him for what would be a massive return, capitalizing on the reigning back-to-back MVP’s value while freeing up much-needed salary-cap space and ushering in a new era with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback.
But, should Rodgers ultimately decide to call it a career, the offseason quarterback market would be shaken up once more, opening the door to some other teams who might now have to turn to Jimmy G as a potential contingency option.
Such as these four.
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.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade partner No. 3: Giants
Ideally, Aaron Rodgers would take note of the growing cast of star quarterbacks emerging in the AFC, recognizing the fact the road to another Super Bowl would be easier through the NFC.
And one of those teams that could completely turn the page on what’s been a frustrating three-plus years is the New York Giants.
The G-Men could be a suitor looking to go all-in on Rodgers, given the fact they have two first-round NFL Draft picks within the top 10 this year, and that kind of ammunition would be attractive to a team like Green Bay. Plus, with a stockpiling of receiving talent put together a year ago, such as wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay, along with tight end Kyle Rudolph, New York would have a kind of arsenal to support an even modest quarterback.
However, the Giants could easily be disappointed if Rodgers is no longer on the market, and while they’d likely bank on one more season with the underachieving Daniel Jones under center, Jimmy Garoppolo could end up being another fallback option.
The Niners would love to get their hands on a first-round pick in exchange for Garoppolo, of course, but a top-10 selection would likely be far too high an exchange piece in of itself.
Instead, San Francisco might consider sending Garoppolo and its own Round 2 pick to the G-Men in exchange for the No. 7 overall pick to make a deal go through.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade partner No. 2: Colts
Both the Packers and 49ers would likely prefer sending their 2021 starting quarterbacks off to AFC teams during the offseason, preventing the possibility of either Aaron Rodgers or Jimmy Garoppolo enacting a revenge game in the playoffs a little less than a year from now.
With the quarterbacking arms race taking place within that conference, AFC teams without a clear-cut star under center are potentially going to act out of desperation.
The Indianapolis Colts are one of those teams boasting nearly everything needed aside from a proven quarterback. Sure, they gave up a significant trade package to the Philadelphia Eagles for embattled signal-caller Carson Wentz last offseason. But if general manager Chris Ballard’s comments on Indy’s quarterbacking future mean anything, it sure doesn’t look as if Wentz will be the long-term answer.
At all.
Read More: Why it may be tough for 49ers to trade Jimmy Garoppolo to an AFC team
Just like Daniel Jones, Indianapolis could be seeking any kind of upgrade over Wentz. Rodgers would be the ideal choice, yes, but Jimmy G might be the perfect fallback option, a player who’d at least elevate head coach Frank Reich’s offense a bit more than Wentz amid an AFC South that, aside from the Tennessee Titans, doesn’t have any clear-cut playoff contenders heading into 2022.
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.