Jimmy Garoppolo linked with Steelers, four other teams

It was learned earlier this week that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among betting favorites to land current 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who said farewell to San Francisco's fan base earlier this week amid rumors he will be traded so that 2021 rookie Trey Lance can become the club's starter. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the newly named Washington Commanders were also mentioned as potential destinations for Garoppolo, and Bucky Brooks of the NFL's website linked the 30-year-old with those two clubs and three others in a piece published Friday. 

Brooks notes that the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos could all be interested in acquiring Garoppolo. 

The Dolphins are about to have a new head coach who will probably have no direct ties to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and it's possible 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel could land that gig and request that his current QB1 join him in Miami. New Orleans and Denver also have questions at signal-caller and will be guided by different coaching staffs in 2022. 

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is on track to have Mason Rudolph compete with 2019 first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins for the right to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Washington head coach Ron Rivera said last month "nothing is out of the question" as the club ideally looks for an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke. 

Garoppolo said he wants to go to a team "where they want to win" and suggested the 49ers will work to make that happen. The truth is any of the five teams mentioned above could've done more damage this past season with better play at the sport's most important position.