Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers At A Point Of No Return

Weeks of rumors surrounding disgruntled Houston Texans quarterback and a potential trade gave in to reality on Thursday. Multiple media reports indicate that the Pro Bowl quarterback has officially requested a trade from the downtrodden organization.

This comes after Watson showed unhappiness with the Texans’ search for a new head coach and general manager to replace the recently-fired Bill O’Brien in both roles.

The reigning NFL passing champion wanted the team to consider minority candidates such as current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and new Jets head coach Robert Saleh, formerly the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator. Even after Houston inked Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley for that role, it was far too late for Watson to change his mind.

Already one of the top-five quarterbacks in the NFL, the 25-year-old Watson now hits the trade market at a time of likely unprecedented movement among quarterbacks. He will be the most-coveted of the group after having put up north of 5,000 total yards with 36 touchdowns against seven interceptions for the Texans last season.

Matthew Stafford Linked To The San Francisco 49ers

Meanwhile, fellow Pro Bowl quarterback Matthew Stafford has also requested that the Detroit Lions trade him. As with Watson, he’s been linked to the San Francisco 49ers in trade possibilities. Talks are ongoing between the two teams after they picked up during Senior Bowl week in Alabama.

All the while, a Super Bowl quarterback in that of Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the 49ers’ roster. He missed all but six games a season ago due to multiple high-ankle sprains.

And while San Francisco’s brass has given the 29-year-old Garoppolo a vote of confidence in recent weeks, it’s readily apparent that the team is looking to upgrade under center. Outside of the injury issues, Garoppolo simply has not morphed into the elite-level signal caller the 49ers had hoped when they acquired him midway through the 2017 season.

There’s also a belief from within that Garoppolo’s $26.4 million cap hit in 2021 is restrictive for the 49ers. That’s especially true with the salary cap issues brought on by the revenue downtick around the football world due to COVID-19.

San Francisco can get out from under Garoppolo’s contract with a $23.6 million savings, either via release or a trade. Both Watson and Stafford would come in cheaper as it relates to a cap hit for the 49ers in 2021.

As for Stafford specifically, his mere $26 million cap hit for 2022 has to be appealing to 49ers general manager John Lynch and Co. This isn’t lost in the 49ers’ thought process as they navigate what promises to be a difficult offseason with the likes of Trent Williams, Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt, K’Waun Williams and Kyle Juszczyk all slated to become free agents.

Heck, San Francisco will have to work hard to sign All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a massive extension that will likely cost north of $16 million annually.

What does this all mean? The writing has been on the wall for Garoppolo ever since he took his last snap under center back in early November. What we’re seeing and hearing over the past few days only adds to this.

The public support for Garoppolo from San Francisco’s brass does nothing to change this. It’s all about playing the PR game, which every team around the NFL does.

The 49ers want to get draft picks(s) in a Garoppolo trade rather than releasing him outright. Pulling a Rams and publicly bashing your quarterback does nothing to benefit San Francisco from this perspective.

As of right now, Garoppolo is the 49ers’ quarterback. Whether it be Watson, Stafford or another veteran option, that’s highly unlikely to be the case here in the not-to-distant future. Take that to the bank.


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