The 49ers appear to have acquired their quarterback of the future much earlier than expected.
San Francisco has traded a 2018 second-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for fourth-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
To repeat: 49ers are trading a 2018 2nd-round draft pick for Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
49ers owned two second-round picks but the one traded for Jimmy Garoppolo is SF’s original second-round pick, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
The move would appear to indicate that after two starts both general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are convinced that rookie third-round pick C.J. Beathard does not have starter potential. It also my indicate that the 49ers believe Kirk Cousins, who is scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, is likely to stick with the Redskins, as he’s long been rumored to be at the top of Shanahan’s wish list.
Garoppolo, 25, turned heads in the only two starts of his career last season with the Patriots, leading the team to wins in both games while throwing four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Garoppolo has a 106.2 career quarterback rating and has appeared in 17 games since being drafted by the Patriots in 2014.
