If the 49ers held off the Rams and reached their second Super Bowl in three seasons, would Jimmy Garoppolo’s future with the franchise be any different?
Because San Francisco stalled in the fourth quarter, we’ll never now. On the Murph and Mac Show, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reiterated the “foregone conclusion” that SF will trade Garoppolo ahead of the Draft, ending his five-year tenure in the Bay.
“That is my expectation, which I think is not a surprise,” Rapoport said. “He more than did his job with the 49ers, and now they’re going to send him some place else and get draft pick compensation. I think everyone will be thrilled. The fact that you made the playoffs and he played well is really the best case scenario.”
Garoppolo himself seems to understand what is likely to come for him, too. Since the 49ers traded three draft picks to move up and select Trey Lance, the clock began on Garoppolo’s time. After the NFC Championship loss, Garoppolo said he had to surround himself with “good people” to play effectively amidst so much speculation. He added “I got no regrets” about the season.
The question, then, on everyone’s mind: What can the 49ers get in return for Garoppolo? And where might he land?
The New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all teams with a potential need at the quarterback position that Rapoport believes could be in on the Garoppolo sweepstakes. Depending on how free agency, trades and retirement decisions play out, that list of potential suitors could expand or shrink (Green Bay, Seattle and Pittsburgh come to mind).
“There’s going to be plenty of places to discuss, and I think he’s going to land somewhere pretty good,” Rapaport said.
Garoppolo played well enough down the stretch of the season to boost his trade value, Rapoport said. In likely his final game with the Niners, Garoppolo went 16-for-30 with 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions.
Rapoport compared Garoppolo’s trade value to that of Carson Wentz’s from last offseason. Coming off a year in which he threw 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, Wentz still netted the Eagles a conditional second-round pick that turned into a first. The return for Garoppolo, who has one year remaining on his deal, could be similar.
“The 49ers have the player,” Rapoport said. “So if you want the player, you’ve got to pay for him. And I remember thinking this last year with the Carson Wentz situation. In my head, I was like ‘I wonder if they’re going to be able to trade him when he’s not great, the contract’s big…’ and then he got traded. Why? Because he’s a quarterback. And you’ve got to have one. And you’ve got to have a great one. That’s one thing we’re seeing in the Super Bowl matchup, is two really good quarterbacks.”
“The 49ers are in an incredible leverage position because they have one, and not everybody does…I would imagine if (Wentz) got traded for a two, could they get that back? Probably could, would be my guess. Or better. I think they’re in a pretty good spot.”
For the full conversation with Rapoport, check out the Murph & Mac Show here or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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