Analyst links 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo to Seahawks

By just about every account heading into the summer months, San Francisco 49ers quarterback and 2021 rookie Trey Lance is preparing as if he'll be the starter over veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo is still recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent in March, and the 30-year-old was excused from attending mandatory minicamp last week as Lance served as the team's QB1. 

While speaking with reporters last week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that Garoppolo could ultimately report to training camp "unless we trade him" shortly after he's cleared to resume throwing. However, those words came before a report claimed that executives, coaches and agents from around the NFL believe Garoppolo "will likely end up being released." 

Garoppolo has long been linked to the Carolina Panthers, and it's repeatedly been rumored that the Seattle Seahawks could look to sign Baker Mayfield if he's cut by the Cleveland Browns. Seattle has Geno Smith competing with 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock for the starting gig, but one former player and current analyst thinks the Seahawks should look elsewhere for an upgrade. 

"The 49ers are not gonna trade Jimmy Garoppolo to the Seattle Seahawks in the division, but when they cut him, and it sounds like they will cut him eventually, I would be all over that. All over it if I'm the Seattle Seahawks," ESPN's Louis Riddick recently remarked on the subject, according to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. 

"Why? ... That offense, very similar in terms of constructs, in terms of philosophy, that Kyle Shanahan runs out in San Francisco. That's an offense that's tailor-made for Jimmy G's style. A little bit run-centric, play-action-pass-centric, some quarterback movement. But don't get it twisted. Jimmy G's not a guy who's out on the perimeter, throwing the football that way.

"But this is a guy who, when he is on, and the running game is strong, and he's got protection, he can throw as pretty of a pass as anyone in the NFL. And with some of the weapons that they have out there, when you think of Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Noah Fant, two good running backs, just drafted two book-end offensive tackles, building up the defense, Jimmy G is like the piece they're missing." 

Riddick added that he feels "Jimmy G would be perfect" for the 2022 Seahawks. 

Riddick's comments are interesting because they may unintentionally offer some insight into why the 49ers haven't yet released Garoppolo. San Francisco likely prefers for Garoppolo to leave the NFC West and may be willing to wait to see if a different team loses its quarterback rather than risk losing him to Seattle for nothing either before or during training camp.