On Friday, Grant Cohn of SI.com published an article suggesting that the Buccaneers want to trade for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and install him as Tom Brady‘s successor. The report stemmed from a conversation that Dan Sileo, a former NFL defensive tackle and current sports radio host, had with renowned agent Don Yee.
Yee represents both Garoppolo and Brady, who shared a quarterback room in New England for three-plus seasons after the Patriots drafted Garoppolo in 2014. However, while a Brady-Garoppolo reunion would certainly be an interesting story, there are a number of issues that would make such a trade difficult. Although Brady is entering his age-45 campaign and briefly retired this offseason, he is still playing at a high level, and Tampa may want him back in 2023 if the legendary signal-caller wants to continue his career. Plus, Garoppolo, who comes with a laundry list of injury problems and whose throwing shoulder surgery in March already complicated the Niners’ trade talks with other clubs, is due a $24.2MM salary this year. Although the 49ers are willing to let their 30-year-old passer negotiate a new contract with interested teams, the money that Garoppolo will want and the uncertainty of Brady’s future would make it difficult for Garoppolo and the Bucs to find middle ground.
Of course, all of those obstacles would only come into play if the Buccaneers truly wanted Garoppolo. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times throws cold water on that notion, saying, “Not a chance” (Twitter link). Stroud cites an unnamed Buccaneers coach who said, “[i]f (Garoppolo) could throw a deep ball, he would’ve won two Super Bowls already.”
The 49ers doubtlessly welcome any reports of outside interest in Garoppolo — reports that Yee might be trying to drum up — as the club does not have many potential trade partners at the moment. The Panthers took themselves out of the running when they traded for Baker Mayfield earlier this week, and if Mayfield’s prior team, the Browns, receive good news vis-a-vis Deshaun Watson‘s expected suspension, then Cleveland likely would not be in the market for Garoppolo either. Without the Browns in the picture, the 49ers may be forced to wait for another club to suffer injury or underperformance during training camp or the preseason to consummate a trade, or they may end up with no choice but to release Garoppolo before Week 1, when his salary becomes guaranteed.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe offers a few potential landing spots other than Cleveland, but those are all imperfect, speculative fits. The list includes teams with established starters like the Raiders (Derek Carr) and clubs that have young quarterbacks that they want to continue evaluating, like the Texans (Davis Mills) and the Giants (Daniel Jones).
Welp .. Hopefully the 9ers can recoup something before they lose him for nothing ..
Grant Cohn? Please use more reliable sources. Cohn is a hack’s hack.
Unfortunately they will be losing him for nothing. Unless someone gets hurt in OTA’s or preseason games, but that would be the ONLY way he goes. Otherwise I’d bet he gets released and Seattle signs him.
Thrasher, not that I’m claiming some super knowledge or the “I said Yada Yada back in February ” but at that time I questioned why anyone would want his contract let alone trade picks for him. I’ve defended Garappollo and I still think he’s a good, but not great QB. And I believe he could win elsewhere but I didn’t think they’d get trade interest and I think it was obvious then as it is now. IMO there’s no way he stays but I agree Thrasher, releasing him is the only option. There are and will be players available as teams go thru camps. Thrasher, who would you like the niners to go after?
ya it’s mire beneficial to 9ers to cut him than it would be for anyone to trade for him.
thought Carolina was the 1 place who might make a desperation play for him, but it seems they’ve decided on a different desperation play for Mayfield
David Jones? Really???
Not sure what happened there. Fixed with apologies.
9’ers are acting like they want to do the best for Jimmy. Well, release him and collect a comp pick next year. That would be best for Grap.
Can they get a comp pick for releasing him? Usually when you lose guys to free agency not for forcing free agency
Valid. I stand corrected.
Grant Cohn, is the worst beat writer I have seen. I quit reading his columns about 7-8 years ago. I am surprised he is still around.
Bingo, and the Sileo show is perfect for Cohn. Sileo defines pathetic.
Honestly haven’t considered the Giants… but yeah that would be a good spot for him
As a giants fan I think that idea stinks
gotta get some type of competition for Jones..
I think they’ll be the favorites to sign him after offering Trubisky early in the off-season
One day they’ll be wheeling a geriatric Jimmy Garopolo into an old folk’s home and they’ll say “oh, that’s right…Tom Brady is staying in your room, don’t worry…you can have it when he’s done. Shouldn’t be too much longer.”
Tom Brady is going to be staying in a room without Gronk?