49ers general manager John Lynch made the biggest move of his young career as an NFL executive on Tuesday, trading away next year’s second round pick for his quarterback of the future, Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
Most expected the 49ers to wait until next offseason to sign their future signal caller, whether that be via free agency or the draft, but Lynch revealed in a video on Monday that the team actually has been trying to acquire Garoppolo since last offseason.
“We’ve studied him hard,” Lynch said of Garoppolo. “We studied him hard this offseason, we tried to do a deal this offseason, and it didn’t come to fruition. It presented itself now and we felt it was an opportunity we had to jump at and we’re very excited.”
49ers had an offer out to NE before the draft, Lynch says. I will note: Lynch and Shanahan have totally shut down the leaks.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 31, 2017
Tim Kawakami of The Athletic also reported that the 49ers made an offer before the most recent NFL Draft.
49ers had an offer out to NE before the draft, Lynch says. I will note: Lynch and Shanahan have totally shut down the leaks.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) October 31, 2017
Before the draft, it was reported that the Patriots were asking for multiple first-round picks in exchange for Garoppolo, a price the 49ers must’ve deemed too steep. Waiting until now dropped that price significantly, and if Garoppolo is indeed franchise caliber, it’s a relatively small one to pay.