Jimmy Garoppolo pushed his presumptive lame-duck year to a conference championship game and, after playing hurt in the season’s final weeks, will soon undergo thumb surgery. While it is not certain the 49ers deal their four-plus-year starter soon, that is Garoppolo’s expectation.
The 30-year-old passer spoke with GM John Lynch on Monday regarding his potential departure, wanting, understandably, to end up in a winning situation. This is relevant considering Garoppolo’s contract contains a no-trade clause, which allows the veteran QB to approve his destination. However, the clause expires at the start of the 2022 league year March 16.
“I was talking to John yesterday about finding the right destination and whatever the future holds, just doing it the right way,” Garoppolo said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “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. That’s really what I’m in this game for.”
Garoppolo’s contract calls for a $24.2M base salary in 2022, the final year of the deal. The 49ers can move the contract easily as they’d be tagged with just $1.4M in dead money in a deal. The 49ers would save more $25.6M by trading their starter, tying them to Trey Lance‘s rookie contract for the foreseeable future. CEO Jed York previously floated the idea of Garoppolo sticking around in 2022, but signs currently point to a trade.
Any team that trades for Garoppolo would likely complete an extension, and suitors figure to emerge. The upcoming quarterback market potentially including Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson would stand to complicate matters on the AFC side, with the long-QB-needy Broncos having been connected to Rodgers for nearly a year. Wilson has also been linked to a Denver destination, and his Seattle future remains murky. Garoppolo qualifies as a cheaper backup plan, in the event Rodgers or Wilson are unattainable.
Other teams could beat the Broncos to the punch while they wait on the bigger names, however. The Steelers also loom as a winning team in need at quarterback, but they have also been mentioned as being likelier to steer clear of a veteran acquisition. The Browns could be in the mix as well, but a fifth Baker Mayfield season looms. The NFC side could feature more interested parties, with Carolina, New Orleans, Washington and now Tampa Bay residing as prospective suitors.
“As far as the whole trade situation, John has been very clear with it,” Garoppolo said. “I think they’re trying to do the best for me; I’m trying to do the best for them and we’re working together. We haven’t really made too much progress on it, but I think things will start happening here pretty quickly.”
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