Report: Trade talks for 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo to 'get serious' at combine

Reports emerged this week claiming that the San Francisco 49ers may keep veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo around for one more season because 2021 rookie Trey Lance allegedly isn't yet ready to lead an NFL offense to a Super Bowl, and also that interest in Garoppolo's services is "lukewarm" heading into the final weekend of February. On Friday, The Athletic's Tim Kawakami offered an update on the club's situation regarding the sport's most important position. 

Kawakami reports that trade talks regarding Garoppolo are "likely to get serious when all the teams gather in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine starting Tuesday" and also that the 49ers "aren’t seriously thinking about holding onto Garoppolo for another season." 

Garoppolo said earlier this month he wants to join a team "where they want to win," and Kawakami wrote the 49ers "plan to do right by" the 30-year-old who, by all accounts, is well-liked within the San Francisco locker room. Lance, thus, remains on track to become the franchise's QB1 this spring, as Kawakami poured cold water over the rumors that Tom Brady will come out of retirement to orchestrate a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Niners. 

New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith have both seemingly closed the door on trading for Garoppolo, who has been linked with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, among other would-be suitors, in stories since even before Week 18 of this past season wrapped up. 

Garoppolo cannot officially be traded until the new league year opens on March 16, but a deal can, and may, be agreed upon as soon as next week.