3 teams who grab Jimmy Garoppolo right away if 49ers cut him
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo Suitor No. 3: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans arguably started the whole cascade of quarterback swapping that directly impacted Jimmy Garoppolo’s trade market by finally moving quarterback Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster deal to the Cleveland Browns.
Houston had been a potential suitor for Garoppolo’s services earlier this offseason, but it was going to carry Watson’s salary and that of Jimmy G amid a massive rebuild. But with Watson (mostly) off the books, the chance to sign Garoppolo on a much more team-friendly deal certainly increases.
Plus, Texans general manager Nick Caserio does have a prior working relationship with Garoppolo from their days together with the New England Patriots.
Now, a lot of this hinges on how Houston feels about its second-year quarterback, Davis Mills, who flashed some potential his rookie season after being drafted in Round 3 out of Stanford.
If the Texans feel Mills is worth continued development after completing 66.8 percent of his passes in 13 games last season, Jimmy G might not be that preferable of a target, at least not for a long-term deal and for nothing more than a veteran-mentor backup.
However, if Houston views Garoppolo as a clear-cut upgrade over Mills, it’s certainly plausible to see Jimmy G rejoin Caserio as a big step in its rebuild.