49ers finally trade Jimmy Garoppolo in this 7-round mock draft

Will the 49ers finally trade Jimmy Garoppolo on NFL Draft weekend, and if they find a trade partner, what value will he bring? That’s what we address in our latest mock draft.

For the first time since 1996, the San Francisco 49ers will not select a player in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Or will they?

After failing to swing for the fences during free agency, fans are hoping for a productive weekend in the war room.

Currently, the Niners don’t make a selection until No. 61 overall, way towards the end of Round 2. Although the roster is mostly intact, there are a few pieces missing, that if attained, would make it easier to replicate last year’s success. There are possible mid- to late-round candidates who could fill the void in this year’s draft class.

But let’s be honest: Nothing is quite as exciting as that first-round pick.

The anticipation of the clock, the feeling you get right before the Commissioner announces the pick and seeing your shiny new player wear that coveted team hat. These are just a few of the reasons we love that first-round selection.

General manager John Lynch is famous for his draft-day trades. He’s moved up in previous years, but he’s also moved back as of late to acquire more picks.

So what will he do this year? It’s anyone’s guess.

However, in this mock draft, he doesn’t just swing for the fence, he knocks it clean out of the park with this trade:

49ers kickstart the NFL Draft by trading Jimmy Garoppolo

I know what you’re thinking. This will never happen. But what if it did?

On paper, this trade makes perfect sense for both sides. The 49ers would create a ton of cap space, and maybe they would address more weaknesses before the beginning of the season in free agency.

For the New York Giants, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is an instant upgrade at the quarterback position. Secondly, offensive tackle is the Giants’ No. 1 need heading into draft weekend. With this trade, the G-Men would fill two key positions of need, and they would still have No. 4 overall in the first round.

Quarterback Daniel Jones is currently playing at a bargain rate, but next year his salary makes a huge jump. If Garoppolo works out, they could cut Jones and use that money to lock up their new quarterback. If Garoppolo doesn’t impress, he could be cut next year without dead money.

Sounds like the perfect scenario.

With the No. 7 overall pick in tow, San Francisco is suddenly on the clock.