It seems unlikely the 49ers will be able to move Jimmy Garoppolo before Week 1, but there’s still an argument for them to get creative and try.
With each passing week, it’s looking more and more likely the San Francisco 49ers won’t be able to trade their veteran quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Niners tried earlier this offseason. But Garoppolo’s hefty contract for 2022, combined with offseason shoulder surgery that made him unable to throw until training camp, certainly influenced other teams’ possible interest in dishing out compensation for him.
With San Francisco ushering in a new era under center with second-year pro Trey Lance, there is an argument the team could keep Garoppolo, likely on a highly reduced salary, to serve as a backup and continued mentor to the presumed new starter.
Only at the risk of inviting the same media circus that existed surrounding the two last year, however.
Instead, the 49ers are likely pinning their hopes on the market suddenly picking up again for Jimmy G, perhaps in the wake of another team’s quarterback either wholly flaming out or suffering a major injury during training camp, both of which are always possible.
Just not guaranteed.
Yes, it seems more likely the Niners will be forced to release Garoppolo outright between now and Week 1. However, given San Francisco hasn’t gone this route yet, there are a few ways where general manager John Lynch and Co. elect to get creative.
Let’s take a look at three trades the 49ers could still make involving Jimmy G. And while none of them are necessarily ideal from the Niners’ vantage point, each could be an offer they’d prefer over releasing the quarterback outright.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade No. 3: Swapping for Browns QB Baker Mayfield
San Francisco isn’t the only team trying to trade its quarterback. The Cleveland Browns, in the wake of acquiring former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, effectively alienated their soon-to-be former starter, Baker Mayfield, and he’s now on the trade block, possibly diluting the market that otherwise would have existed for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Even if Watson ends up being suspended for all of 2022 (or longer) in light of off-field alleged sexual misconduct, Cleveland turning back to Mayfield seems unlikely.
So, what about a straight-up trade for the two?
As crazy as this sounds, there is some merit to it.
For some backdrop, Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn spoke with Pete Smith of FanNation’s Browns Digest on the idea, and Smith brought up some interesting points, including this:
"The dream scenario for the Browns is to trade Baker Mayfield’s guaranteed salary. It’s $18.8 million. They don’t want to pay it. If they trade him to the 49ers for Jimmy Garoppolo who is scheduled to make $24.2 million base salary plus some bonuses, that’s a win for the 49ers in the sense that they save a little bit of money, but it’s a huge win for the Browns because it’s all base salary for Jimmy Garoppolo, and what the Browns could do is turn around and cut him, and they’d get away from all $18.8 million of guaranteed salary."
The Niners do benefit by clearing $5.4 million in much-needed salary-cap space, and they’d answer the question about having an adequate backup for Trey Lance. Mayfield is a vastly superior option over San Francisco’s other options under center, Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy, should Lance either flame out or be lost to an injury for an extended period of time.
Unlike retaining Garoppolo, though, there wouldn’t be any sort of bona fide quarterback controversy with Mayfield in direct support of Lance this season.
Although it sure would be provocative to see Mayfield and EDGE Nick Bosa on the same team.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade No. 2: Swapping for Panthers QB Sam Darnold, NFL Draft pick
As intriguing as a Jimmy Garoppolo trade for Baker Mayfield straight up would be, it’s still hard to envision the 49ers absorbing nearly $19 million for a backup, even if it’s just for one year.
That brings us back to another long-argued trade possibility the Niners could make: sending Jimmy G to the Carolina Panthers, who are poised to enter 2022 with two quarterbacking possibilities, Sam Darnold and the rookie, Matt Corral.
Let’s assume Garoppolo is much better than Darnold (he is), and let’s also admit Panthers head coach Matt Rhule enters 2022 on the hot seat, desperately in need of some efficiency under center.
From a contractual standpoint, Carolina would have enough cap space to absorb Garoppolo’s post-trade cap hit if it moved Darnold, which would free up $18.86 million, just like Mayfield. So, San Francisco would be clearing more than $5 million in additional cap space even if it fell into the same situation as with the would-be Mayfield trade of paying a lot for a backup.
Still, there’s an argument Darnold would nevertheless be a safer backup option for Trey Lance over Nate Sudfeld or Brock Purdy, yet the difference between Darnold and Garoppolo would require some additional compensation.
It doesn’t compare much to what the 49ers originally hoped to get out of Garoppolo, but a fourth-round NFL Draft pick probably does the trick.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade No. 1: Deal with the Seahawks?
On the surface, this trade seems like the craziest thing the Niners could do.
Inter-divisional trades are awfully rare, and the last thing either San Francisco or the Seattle Seahawks would want to do is somehow benefit each other, in this case, the 49ers getting draft compensation back while the Hawks find an immediate upgrade over their current quarterbacking options, Geno Smith and Drew Lock.
However, sending Jimmy Garoppolo up north to Seattle does carry some merit.
With a shade over $16 million in cap space, absorbing Garoppolo’s contract would be a bit tricky from the Seahawks’ vantage point, but moving on from Smith helps free up $3 million already. And if we’re to assume a team like the Hawks would instantly move to sign Garoppolo if the Niners released him outright, John Lynch might as well look to get something from this NFC West rival somehow.
How about two mid-round draft picks?
Read More: Why trading Jimmy Garoppolo to Seahawks actually makes sense
From Seattle’s standpoint, Garoppolo is an immediate upgrade over Smith and Lock but not a long-term one. And while San Francisco doesn’t want to help the Seahawks improve their roster entering 2022, a would-be Garoppolo addition likely isn’t going to move the Hawks’ proverbial needle too far into the range of a playoff contender.
Would we consider this trade likely? Absolutely not.
But as far as creativity goes, it’s not the worst thing the 49ers could do.