Jimmy Garoppolo‘s contract expires at season’s end, but it doesn’t sound like the 49ers are planning to exclusively use his in-game work for this year’s team as an audition. In fact, the team isn’t certain its prized trade acquisition will play this season.
Prefacing his statement by noting it can take until quarterbacks’ second years in his system for them to learn it, Kyle Shanahan said he can’t promise Garoppolo will play in 2017. C.J. Beathard has been announced as San Francisco’s Week 9 starter, but Garoppolo — as the only other quarterback on the active roster — will be the backup.
“I know it’s going to take some time before he has an opportunity to play,” Shanahan said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “We didn’t bring Jimmy here to save our season. We brought Jimmy here to improve this organization.
“I can’t promise you guys that he won’t play this week. I can’t promise you guys that he’ll play this year. I know we have a guy that we’re excited about and I know he has the ability to really help us and help the team in the future. …I’m not going to put someone out there who I don’t think has a chance to be successful.”
The 49ers face the Giants in Week 10 and have a Week 11 bye. A somewhat logical Garoppolo debut date exists in Week 12, when the 49ers host the Seahawks. But Shanahan made it clear that Garoppolo is not a short-term fix.
Garoppolo is not tied to the 49ers after this season, but he can be franchise-tagged at a reasonable price (for a team projected to hold more than $61MM in cap space before any roster moves are made) of around $23MM. The 49ers certainly sound like this is a long-term arrangement, and while it would be a surprise if he didn’t debut for the team this season, it would stand to reason they’re hesitant about deploying their new quarterback on a winless outfit.
“Regardless of what happens [should Garoppolo play this season], I know it’s not the finished product,” Shanahan said.
Tank is in full effect lol. They want some Saquon.
Why would they give up a 2nd round pick for him.
Because they want him in their facility with their coaches and their talent evaluators to see if they truly believe he’s worth the big money contract he will undoubtably get after this year. Football especially QB isn’t like basketball or baseball where you can be traded and play day one at the same level. The 49ers have a different office with a different language then what he had in college and with the pats. For instance many offices will have generally the same routes and play types but called different things. Many NFL teams have 500 plus plays and it takes time to memorize all those to the point where you can give a 15 word play call and know exactly what every part means. Know the snap count, each route that each receiver will run, the protection, what’s your fist option, second. Then on top of that knowing your guys. Learning where your receivers like the ball what there tendencies are what their weaknesses are. If they start him Sunday either the office will be very bland and easy for NFL defenses to read and stop or they will have their standard office and have mass miscommunication and make him look bad/ hurt confidence/ lose badly. Although I think he plays by sometime in December and gets 2-4 starts to help verify what they see in practice.
Terrific response. Thanks!
If you don’t trust in his skill level why give up a high 2nd round pick for him? Especially if he won’t make an impact this year. You could just as easily draft someone instead. I bet they don’t get a deal done and franchise him instead.
The Browns and 49ers front offices should appear in a real life Celebrity Death Match.
Ha!
Waste of a draft pick but OK
Yup, trading away what is essentially a really late 1st round pick for an expiring contract that won’t play. I’d rather draft a player I will have than be forced to use the franchise tag to keep Garoppolo. He will not sign a contract extension with San Francisco too much demand for Qbs.