Jimmy Garoppolo indeed makes perfect sense.
A solid, experienced, winning quarterback for a team looking to bounce back from a down season, return to the playoffs and maybe even pursue Super Bowl glory once again!
Which despite what you may have heard or even presumed, is why Garoppolo makes perfect sense to remain in San Francisco as the starting quarterback for one more season.
While Friday’s blockbuster trade by the 49ers moving up to the No. 3 overall spot in April’s draft reignited talk that Garoppolo might be destined to be reunited with Bill Belichick this offseason, the reality is that the deal may have actually made New England’s search for an upgrade at quarterback even more difficult for the short term.
Obviously the 49ers traded up to No. 3 – giving the Dolphins the No. 12 pick this year and two future first-round picks to do so – to land their quarterback of the future, with an emphasis on future. With the Jaguars taking Trevor Lawrence No. 1 and the Jets seemingly locked in on Zach Wilson with the second pick, it now seems certain three quarterbacks will be selected in the top three picks.
That means only two other perceived first-round passers will be available from No. 4 on down through the Patriots at No. 15. The supply of would-be franchise QBs is already shrinking for New England – even if the team were willing to trade up to improve its chances – and the draft day demand is still a month away!
Is the Wesleyan economics major Belichick willing to give up the bounty that San Francisco GM John Lynch did to move up from a lower spot in the order? Maybe, but it would certainly emphatically and dramatically extend Belichick’s already “uncharacteristically aggressive” offseason. (Mike Tyson approved that sentence!)
Which is why late last week many a fan and media type immediately turned their attention – lust in some cases – toward Garoppolo as a now more attainable target. Cue the music, he’s coming home!
Remember how Jimmy G. looked leading the Patriots offense for a more than a game to open the 2016 season!!!??? Or that 20-of-25 performance he put forth beating up his former team 33-6 at Gillette Stadium last season?
It’s all coming full circle.
But why? How? Why now?
Why would the 49ers trade Garoppolo – who does have a no-trade clause in his contract he could exercise at any point in the process for any reason -- to the Patriots and turn over a veteran team to a rookie who not only hasn’t thrown a single practice pass yet but hasn’t even technically joined the team?
A year removed from a Super Bowl trip would veteran talents like All-Pro tight end George Kittle, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, $100 million left tackle Trent Williams, stud pass rusher Nick Bosa and others really want to turn the keys to the franchise over to a upstart QB who they’ve never been to battle with, heck who they’ve yet to even meet? Doubtful, at best.
It wouldn’t be unprecedented but it just seems really, really unlikely. Indeed first-round pick Ben Roethlisberger took over the veteran-based Steelers in 2004, leading Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward and Joey Porter to a 15-1 record before an AFC title game loss to the Patriots.
Maybe that’s the plan Lynch and QB-arrogant head coach Kyle Shanahan have in mind, unloading an injury-prone passer for an exciting youngster. Garoppolo is literally basically a coin flip to be hurt after all, having missed nearly as many games (23) as he started (25) over the last three years in the Bay Area.
Or, maybe they realize that one more year with the malleable mind and even-keeled emotions of Garoppolo under center – and his $26.4 million cap hit already on the books with the big-money portion of the NFL offseason already behind us – would be in the best interests of all involved. And if Garoppolo were to get hurt again at least they have a hopeful, rep-needy backup in the waiting.
Maybe Mac Jones (the hot early rumor to the 49ers), Justin Fields or Trey Lance (the least NFL-ready of the trio) would even be able to beat out Garoppolo this summer and take the job.
Or, more likely, maybe those guys look like rookie passers with plenty to learn and the 49ers go with the Chiefs approach, trading up for the future stud while keeping the serviceable veteran for the present.
It couldn’t have worked any better in Kansas City for Andy Reid with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith, could it? The 49ers learned that lesson firsthand in Super Bowl LIV.
Sorry to ruin your Monday morning dreams, but Jimmy G might still be – hell, probably is -- staying put in San Francisco for one more year as the 49ers have said all along.
And the Patriots pursuits of an upgrade at quarterback may have taken another hit, leaving Cam Newton even more likely to return to the starting job in New England in 2021.
Sorry.
