Jimmy Garoppolo trade: 4 front-running teams now in the mix for 49ers QB

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Jimmy Garoppolo trade suitor No. 2: New Orleans Saints

It’s entirely possible San Francisco delayed trading Jimmy Garoppolo simply to wait on what happens with Deshaun Watson, knowing the loser(s) of those sweepstakes will be scrambling to make a move however possible.

Let’s assume either the Panthers or the Falcons wind up netting Watson. If that’s the case, the Saints would be another potential destination for Jimmy G this offseason.

Granted, New Orleans was in salary-cap hell just before the league new year, scrambling to get underneath the $208.2 million salary cap. As such, taking on Garoppolo’s post-trade $25.5 million salary would make things even more challenging, and that’s possibly an obstacle unless Garoppolo agrees to an immediate restructure of his current deal.

One that’d likely have to result in a pay cut.

However, Garoppolo’s no-trade clause expired on March 16, so there’s no way for him to veto that deal, even if the 49ers presumably want to do right by him.

From the Saints’ perspective, at least they’d be getting an upgrade over quarterback Taysom Hill, assuming they don’t want to bring veteran signal-caller Jameis Winston back after he tore his ACL last season.