The San Francisco 49ers have looked to move on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo since their selection of Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft. Trading the soon-to-be free agent seemed like a long shot after a deal wasn't completed at the 2022 draft, but it seems as if Garoppolo isn't guaranteed to be a Niner by the beginning of the season.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports that the Niners are still planning to move the 30-year-old signal-caller before the beginning of the 2022 season.
The Niners have been patient in their approach to trading their starting quarterback. A deal could have been completed during the 2021 draft. ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported that the New England Patriots offered a second-round pick for the quarterback they drafted in 2014, but San Francisco declined.
Garoppolo is a free agent at the season's end, however, so waiting too long may be ill-advised if the Niners want to recoup assets for their signal-caller.
Another reason Garoppolo remains a member of the 49ers is his shoulder surgery. Garoppolo injured his shoulder during San Francisco's NFC Wild Card victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
He would lead the Niners to the NFC Championship Game, but they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Garoppolo then underwent surgery on the injured shoulder in March.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that Garoppolo was set to return throwing around training camp. That would be around mid-to-late July.
A move likely won't materialize until then, as Garoppolo's market diminished when the surgery was announced. Interested teams will likely want to know how the 30-year-old looks before giving up assets to acquire him.
"The hope here, of course, is that where the Niners’ deliberate slow play in March didn’t really work out, after the quarterback’s delayed decision to have rotator cuff surgery (they hoped resolution of the Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers situations would open up a market for Garoppolo); a similar tact could work here with Garoppolo’s shoulder on the mend (presumably, he could throw for a team in early July to show his progress), and there’s potential for latecomers to the quarterback trade table," Breer writes.
A few of the teams that were potentially interested in Garoppolo have already made their moves regarding the quarterback position. The Patriots drafted Mac Jones last year after being turned down by the Niners. The Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers have also added a new signal-caller.
Two teams who have been linked to Garoppolo are the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks. Both have added a new quarterback, with Carolina drafting Matt Corral and Seattle acquiring Drew Lock in the Wilson trade. However, neither team has a clear cut starter at the position, and can't be ruled out at making a run for the two-time Super Bowl champion.
