49ers news: 4 storylines to watch in wake of Baker Mayfield trade
By Peter Panacy
49ers storyline No. 2: What to do with Jimmy Garoppolo if Browns don’t bite?
There’s always the chance a trade market picks back up for Jimmy Garoppolo again even if the Browns aren’t interested. A starting quarterback could suffer an injury in training camp, or the 49ers somehow convince a team out there to take Jimmy G off their hands while getting something modest in return.
Heck, we’ve even speculated about some last-ditch trades general manager John Lynch and Co. could explore.
However, the strongest of all possibilities likely boils down to this: keep or cut Garoppolo.
The Niners would prefer to avoid the same media circus from 2021 that surrounded the veteran and the young quarterback poised to replace him, Trey Lance, and they also need to free up that $25.5 million to carry it over into 2023 for what’ll likely be massive contract extensions for players like wide receiver Deebo Samuel and EDGE Nick Bosa.
From that perspective, simply cutting Garoppolo makes sense. Yet there’s going to be a lingering argument suggesting Garoppolo could still serve as Lance’s backup this season. Or, potentially, Jimmy G remains the starter.
The only way to avoid that would be if Garoppolo is gone, and that’s yet to be seen.