Here we are, on the cusp of April, and there’s no sign that a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo is imminent.
The 49ers’ leadership has admitted that they did not want it this way. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan had hoped to have a trade done by now, but pointed to Garoppolo’s shoulder surgery as the main impediment towards moving him.
The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami joined Tolbert and Copes on Wednesday to discuss the situation and whether it’s actually possible that Garoppolo remains on the roster at the start of the season, let alone the start of training camp.
Kawakami said that while the shoulder surgery was a factor, he doesn’t believe that Garoppolo was ever “worth that much” from the beginning.
While he pointed towards Kyle Shanahan being stubborn and doing business different than other organizations, he doesn’t believe Garoppolo will be on the roster at the start of training camp. He also doesn’t believe that keeping him on the roster affected how they did business in free agency.
“Ninety-seven percent chance Jimmy Garoppolo will not be on this team once the first training camp practice begins,” Kawakami said. “I don’t think they lost anybody by fitting it under the cap. I just don’t think that’s the way they played it. If there was somebody great for them to sign where they needed Garoppolo’s money to use it, they would have just cut Garoppolo and then signed them.”
While Kawakami sees a “tiny percentage” chance that Garoppolo is on the roster, the 49ers have put out a clear message that this is Lance’s team now.
“I think they’ve been very clear with Lance,” Kawakami said. “I think what Shanahan said [Tuesday] morning, really underlying that they’re communicating. He’s the guy, like they’re telling him he’s the guy. They’re just on this other road trying to maintain — whether it’s the illusion or the possibility — just to maintain some sort of trade value, so when Garoppolo can throw again, whether that June, early July or whatever it’s going to be, maybe try to trade him there or you just cut him there.”
Listen to the full interview below. You can listen to every KNBR interview on our podcast page at knbr.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Catch Tolbert and Copes weekdays from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on KNBR 104.5 / 680 and streaming live on KNBR.com.
