Report: Browns, Texans unlikely to pursue Jimmy Garoppolo

Regardless of what some may believe, the Carolina Panthers landing quarterback Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns last week did not leave the Seattle Seahawks as the only club currently linked with San Francisco 49ers veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo in rumors. 

The Browns may soon have journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their QB1 if Deshaun Watson is suspended for part or all of the upcoming season over allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans are set to start unproven 2021 third-round draft choice Davis Mills at the sport's most important position. 

Both Cleveland and Houston have been mentioned as possible destinations for Garoppolo, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained during a recent appearance on the KNBR "Tolbert and Copes" program that he doesn't see either club necessarily going all-in for the 30-year-old. 

"I don't know that I would say Cleveland is a big suitor," Fowler remarked, according to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I think they're pretty comfortable with Jacoby Brissett. They got him as a bridge quarterback. They know they might need that sort of depth to make it work. They have Josh Dobbs too. ... I don't think they feel they have enough draft capital to really do anything like that. So we'll see what kind of moves they might make."

As noted by the Texans' website, Houston general manager Nick Caserio served as director of player personnel for the New England Patriots when they drafted Garoppolo in 2014. 

"But Houston maybe because of the Nick Caserio connection there with the GM," Fowler continued during his comments. "But even that, they really like Davis Mills, so it would be sort of a surprise to see that kind of move as well."

It's widely assumed 2021 rookie Trey Lance is atop San Francisco's depth chart coming off springtime workouts regardless of any supposed concerns related to his "arm fitness" and "arm fatigue." If no legitimate trade partner emerges, the 49ers could either cut Garoppolo or welcome Jimmy G back to training camp on July 26 and maybe even let him compete with Lance for the starting job later this summer.