Jimmy Garoppolo: 3 draft-day trades potentially involving 49ers QB

Jimmy Garoppolo NFL Draft trade partner No. 1: Carolina Panthers

Go bold, right?

The Carolina Panthers are arguably the last suitor for Jimmy Garoppolo’s services entering NFL Draft season. Armed with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, though, they can afford to wait and see how Round 1 plays out.

However, the same X-factor potentially impacting the Falcons applies here. What if a prospect like Malik Willis doesn’t fall that far? And with no other likable options aside from incumbent quarterback Sam Darnold, could Carolina head coach Matt Rhule act out of desperation if there aren’t any other workable possibilities in a weak quarterbacking draft class?

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Perhaps. But with zero picks between No. 6 overall and the Panthers’ next selection, late in Round 4, Rhule has to focus on quantity more than quality to reboost a roster that largely unimpressed a season ago.

The 49ers, meanwhile, have the opposite focus: quality over quantity. John Lynch wouldn’t mind at all sending away the Niners’ first three picks of the draft, plus Garoppolo, to Carolina to net a top-10 selection.

The Panthers would get an upgrade over Darnold and some additional much-needed draft capital, while San Francisco would get a dream shot of a top pick in Round 1.

Likely? No. But it won’t mean Lynch avoids making the phone call.