Jimmy Garoppolo trade-request news tells us nothing new

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Jimmy Garoppolo and his camp have been granted permission by the 49ers to seek a trade, but it’s not new news.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter told the NFL world how quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his camp had sought permission from the San Francisco 49ers to explore trade options this offseason.

And, based on Schefter’s report, the Niners had granted it.

While this might go against the argument some have made about San Francisco actually keeping Jimmy G on the roster this season, either to compete directly with or serve as a backup to presumed starter Trey Lance, Schefter’s latest news suggests quite the opposite.

ESPN elaborated wrote:

"The San Francisco 49ers have given Jimmy Garoppolo’s agents permission to seek a trade involving the veteran quarterback, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Garoppolo, who is recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder, has been cleared to start practicing as the Niners prepare for the start of training camp next week, a team source told Schefter."

This sounds like blockbuster news. Except for the fact it isn’t.

If anything, the latest buzz only reinforces what the hints about Garoppolo’s immediate future have been suggesting all offseason.

Jimmy Garoppolo trade speculation is nothing new

In a roundabout way, the 49ers announced they’d be interested in trading Garoppolo in 2022 after aggressively trading up for Lance prior to the 2021 NFL Draft. Effectively trying to follow the same path the Kansas City Chiefs did with former quarterback Alex Smith after they drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017, letting the rookie marinate for a year before starting the following, it’s not hard to see the path the Niners were taking.

Yet that’s speculative. Instead, let’s actually look at the concrete evidence about why Schefter’s report isn’t exactly groundbreaking.

49ers have admitted they are trying to trade Jimmy Garoppolo

Forget the inevitable “smoke and mirrors” campaign here. General manager John Lynch actually went as far as saying Garoppolo was close to being traded earlier this offseason, only to have Jimmy G’s offseason shoulder surgery get in the way, telling KNBR 680 (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area) the following:

"I felt like we were close in some discussions and then the decision was made to have surgery and that brought things to a screeching halt, people just don’t do that even with a likelihood that everything is going to be good."

Additionally, head coach Kyle Shanahan has also issued out overtones about Garoppolo trades, too.

“I expect him at some time most likely to be traded, but who knows,” Shanahan said last May, via NFL.com. “It’s not a guarantee. It’s been on hold when (surgery) happened and when he’s healthy, we will see what happens.”

Read More: NY Giants a dark-horse player for Jimmy Garoppolo?

No, it’s not a guarantee. The fact that Garoppolo is still on the roster is a testament to that, and likely the shoulder surgery and rather whirlwind-like quarterbacking carousel experienced this offseason has left Jimmy G and the Niners in this current spot.

For now, at least.

Jimmy Garoppolo even said he expects to be traded

Let’s rewind back to the conclusion of San Francisco’s 2021 campaign, which ended in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams in February of 2022 during the NFC Championship game.

Shortly thereafter, as transcribed by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Garoppolo’s final press conference of the season didn’t mince words:

"I was talking to John [Lynch] yesterday about finding the right destination and whatever the future holds, just doing it the right way. I’ve got a long career ahead of me. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunities to come. I just want to go to a place where they want to win."

Both Lynch and Shanahan have talked about the would-be trade, and Garoppolo has, too.

And in all likelihood, Garoppolo’s agents like Don Yee and Carter Chow are merely performing their expected business, which is the usual course of action when a player is likely to be traded.

So, while Schefter’s report is important and suggests a trade could be more imminent than previously thought, it’s not exactly new news.