Jimmy Garoppolo: Rethinking 4 teams that could trade for 49ers QB
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo is definitively on the trade block, for sure now, which possibly points to one of these four teams striking a deal with the 49ers.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the San Francisco 49ers had granted permission to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his camp to seek out a trade in the waning days of the offseason.
It shouldn’t be considered new news. After all, there are numerous bits of concrete evidence suggesting the Niners were both trying to move the veteran signal-caller earlier this offseason and allowed Garoppolo’s side to explore options, too, including comments from San Francisco’s front office itself.
If anything, though, Schefter’s report only reinforces the notion the 49ers are preparing to move on while opening the door for second-year pro Trey Lance to emerge as the starting quarterback going forward.
While the bulk of starting-quarterback gigs has been filled as training camps around the league start, let’s take a look at which teams may either be rumored to have interest in Jimmy G or could be an 11th-hour trade partner with the Niners here.
Jimmy Garoppolo trade destination No. 4: Cleveland Browns
On the surface, it appears as of the Cleveland Browns are showing no interest in trading for Garoppolo despite moving quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason and in light of what could be a hefty suspension to fellow signal-caller Deshaun Watson.
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland “never seriously considered trading for Garoppolo this offseason,” which would point to backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett likely getting the start if Watson is out for a lengthy period of time.
Albeit with some backup help:
The Cleveland Browns are working out quarterbacks this week, including veterans A.J. McCarron and Josh Rosen, per sources. Cleveland looking to go to training camp with four quarterbacks, with Jacoby Brissett to be the QB1 depending what happens with Deshaun Watson's status.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 21, 2022
Still, boasting a roster ready to win now and with plenty of cap space, the above information could theoretically be part of a smoke-and-mirrors campaign with the intent of driving down Garoppolo’s market.
And, as Niner Noise’s Jeremy Wohlfart pointed out, the Browns have a problematic cap situation in 2023, which could point to them needing to be aggressive now instead of waiting a full year and hoping the context improves.
Again, it doesn’t seem overly likely Cleveland emerges as a front-runner for Garoppolo here. But the possibility of it happening can’t be removed either.