49ers think Seahawks would sign Jimmy Garoppolo if he's released?

San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York generated some headlines when he said ahead of the weekend that the franchise is "happy to keep" veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster through the fall even though Garoppolo has been replaced by 2021 rookie Trey Lance as the club's starter. 

The $24.2 million base salary Garoppolo is owed for 2022 per his contract doesn't become guaranteed until after the preseason, and previous stories linked the 30-year-old with the Seattle Seahawks. As things stand today, San Francisco's NFC West rivals are on track to start either journeyman veteran Geno Smith or 2019 second-round draft pick Drew Lock at the sport's most important position next month. 

Thus, it's understandable the 49ers haven't yet released Garoppolo and are instead still hoping to find a buyer for his services via a trade. Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco broke the situation down during an appearance on the "Tolbert and Copes" show that airs on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR. 

"I would suspect that he's released on Aug. 30, and then it doesn't go to Sept. 10," Maiocco said of Garoppolo. "They could hold on to him for that long, but I don't think they would do that because that would mean that, in essence, they would have to cut one more player than they want to because, with him, it would be 52 players and Jimmy Garoppolo. And so with the roster that they have, I just don't see them doing that."

Maiocco believes Garoppolo could sign with a different club within a day of what seems, on paper, to be an inevitable release. 

"And I know around the 49ers, that they think he's going to be ending up in Seattle," Maiocco continued during the segment. 

Logic suggests Garoppolo, or any other quarterback, would need multiple weeks with a new employer following the preseason before he was ready to start against a live opposing defense. The 49ers probably have that in mind as it pertains to Jimmy G's status, as they host none other than the Seahawks in Week 2 on Sept. 18.