Minutes after a report indicated mutual interest existed between the Raiders and Jimmy Garoppolo, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports the team is closing in on a deal with the ex-Patriots and 49ers passer.
The Raiders had shown some interest, and The Athletic’s Jeff Howe noted Garoppolo had become receptive to rejoining Josh McDaniels. It now looks like the Raiders will replace Derek Carr with McDaniels’ former Pats pupil. This signing is happening, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini.
Las Vegas is landing Garoppolo at a reasonable rate. He is signing a three-year, $67.5MM deal, Schefter reports. While this pact includes $34MM guaranteed, the AAV puts Garoppolo squarely in between the franchise-QB tier and backup money. Tom Pelissero of NFL.com places the base value higher, indicating (via Twitter) it comes in at $72.75MM.
An $11.25MM bonus on Day 3 of the 2024 league year is also guaranteed, per Pelissero, and ESPN’s Field Yates adds Garoppoplo will carry base salaries of $11.25MM in both 2023 and ’24 (Twitter link). Annual incentives of $1.5MM are also present in the deal. Garoppolo stands to be locked in with the Raiders through 2024, with Pelissero noting the guarantees effectively cover the 2023 and ’24 campaigns. The deal includes $45MM in total guarantees and $22.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap.
Garoppolo’s 2023 base salary and 2024 roster bonus are guaranteed at signing, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. No other full guarantees are present, his 2024 salary — guaranteed for injury at signing — shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the ’24 league year. The deal’s 2025 base salary ($22.5MM) is nonguaranteed. It also includes $1.53MM in per-game roster bonuses per year. Garoppolo being healthy next March does open the door to this being a one-off pact for the Raiders, who just exercised a Carr escape hatch after a 2022 extension.
The Raiders cut Carr instead of recommitting via a $40.4MM guarantee, which was to vest Feb. 15, and the Saints picked up the 10th-year veteran. Garoppolo (and Tom Brady) were on Las Vegas’ radar weeks before Carr’s release. It took $60MM fully guaranteed for New Orleans to land Carr, while the Raiders needed to guarantee barely a third of that total to sign Garoppolo. Carr only missed three games due to injury in his career; Garoppolo has missed 30 for health reasons since his 2018 ACL tear.
Garoppolo, 31, spent three-plus seasons in McDaniels’ offense in New England, backing up Brady throughout that time (save for the Deflategate stretch). But Garoppolo showed in San Francisco he could be an effective starter. Although a top-tier defense backed him up, Garoppolo piloted the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV and the 2021 NFC championship game.
Carr provides more security than Garoppolo, with the latter suffering injuries during the 2018, 2020, ’21 and ’22 campaigns. But McDaniels did not end up viewing the nine-year Raiders starter as a good fit for his offense. It will now be Garoppolo tasked with distributing the ball to Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Co. This contract also gives the Raiders some flexibility regarding a quarterback draft choice. Holding the No. 7 overall pick, the Raiders have been connected to using it on a quarterback. That still should be a situation to monitor, though it will be interesting to see how McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler — who was also in New England during Garoppolo’s stay — categorize this signing.
QBR placed Garoppolo 16th last season; he has ranked higher — including in his 2019 Super Bowl-bound year — but injuries did well to sidetrack his run with the 49ers. He battled multiple maladies by the time he reached the NFC title game in Los Angeles during the 2021 season, and a broken foot brought in Brock Purdy last season.
The Raiders had been linked to Aaron Rodgers, though far more loosely compared to the Jets, but they will go with a younger option that will not cost them any draft capital. Garoppolo could be positioned as a multiyear bridge, depending on how the Raiders view this QB class. The team has not used a first-round pick on a passer since the disastrous JaMarcus Russell choice in 2007.
For the Jets, this raises the Rodgers stakes. The team was interested in Carr, bringing him in for a visit, but communicated to the longtime Raider he was their second choice. Some in the Jets’ organization viewed Garoppolo as a better fit compared to Carr, but both are now unavailable. If Rodgers ends up turning down a chance to join the Jets, the team’s long-expressed plan to acquire a major veteran upgrade will be thrown off axis.
Boy .. Nobody saw this coming lol
That be 2 easy wins for the Chiefs.
I thought he’d be a much better fit with the Jets
RIP carewr
Now on the clock for the #1 pick in the 2024 draft. The Los Vegas Raiders.
Nah Jimmy G will be just good enough to screw you guys into the 15-17 range.
So happy to see him leave the 49ers. He’s the definition of fools gold
It’ll that’s his definition, curious how you define a QB the 49ers took 3rd overall after being the starting QB in just 1 of 3 seasons at an FCS program.
Oh boy now jets have to look at lamar if rogers falls through. Lol love this drama
3/3 on QB landing spots
The guaranteed money isn’t terrible, but between Carr’s dead cap and this AAV, they’re spending a lot of money on a guy who can’t stay on the field and isn’t even a talent upgrade.
Raider fans will get sick of him quick when they see he needs an elite D behind him to play his style successfully.
Nick Mullens to the Vikings, Mike White to the Dolphins, did you guess those?
Yay! Jimmy will thrive in las Vegas…
Good luck Jimmy he was a good 49er not great but a nice guy and not a locker room distraction
I assume this is sarcasm…
What part do you think is sarcasm
I was responding to “Jimmy will thrive in Las Vegas…”
Hmm, so does this mean another draft shakeup with the Raiders not drafting a QB or drafting somebody to hold a clipboard for a season or a couple of games til Jimmy craps the bed?
#LetJimmycook
So the Raiders cut Derek Carr to sign a worse version of Derek Carr. Bold move.
And just like that Jets were all in on Aaron Rodgers
and are going to be so hosed if he decides to retire or stay in GB (though they seem to want him gone).
It’s not the worst choice the Raiders could have made but they’ll need to add another body as Chase Garbers won’t provide enough depth.
LMAO the Raiders have NEVER been able to get out of their own way! The best ability in the NFL is availability and dude just ain’t got it! Start looking at quality backup QBs right now and bring one in, b/c Jimmy G will be on IR before the weather gets cold next season. Not hating just pointing out the obvious. Good luck LVR!
Brady retired, Rogers obviously not interested, Lamar (and his agent) unapproachable. Jimmy makes sense here. A systems manager who knows this system. The big if, as well stated here, is keeping healthy.
This is the first time in five years that I liked a Raiders’ move. That means very little since they’ve made so many poor moves.
But Garo is a good QB when he stays on the field (15+ starts in 2 of 4 seasons). No draft capital lost like Jackson would’ve cost, and not a ton of money.
I thought this was going to be a disaster, but $22.5M per is very reasonable. Now, can we finally draft someone good with our #1?
Agreed. He’s not an upgrade from Carr but will be a better system fit. If Hooker falls to them in the second round and can sit and learn for a year or two this could be a success.
Hooker? Wow! You’re like the only guy I ever heard that wanted HH for the Raiders, besides me. I’m no longer alone on this island.
I badly wanted the Raiders to land Hurts a couple of years back. To their credit, Philly took him earlier than I thought he’d go. It’s just my amateur opinion, but I see a lot of similarities between Hurts and HH. They both protect the football, both can run for a 1st down, and both (hopefully) can throw a little.
Older, and injured, but I love the risk.
And if was me, I would trade from 7 to maybe #14 to pick up a 2nd rounder+.
They better have a hell of a draft. QB isn’t their only problem.
“If we haven’t talked in the last 3 weeks don’t hit me about this s—. Thanks,” was Davante Adam’s take on Insta.
So they’ve downgraded at QB and alienated their star WR. Lol. Hoodie Jr. doing Hoodie Jr. things. You’re absolutely correct that QB isn’t their only problem. The biggest one is they have three guys trying to run a franchise without a single clue what they’re doing between them.
Well, they can hope the haircut helps. It’s a start anyway. No way on Earth is that tweedle-dum doo ever going to hoist a Lombadi trophy.
I like Carr, and would’ve kept him even at $40M, but this isn’t really a downgrade. Garo is as good a QB, just a bigger injury risk. At $22.5M v $40M, this is worth the risk, imho.
The most crucial ability at QB is availability, though. How many teams in the league have competent back ups? It’s not a position where I’d want to roll the dice, if I were a GM. Injuries can -and will- happen, but it’s a pattern with Jimmy. The 49ers are an exceptionally well run franchise, and they moved off of the guy at a heavy cost. I think that’s telling.
I’ll give you Carr and Jimmy’s numbers look similar this far; but Jimmy G has largely had good teams and coaching to support him, while Carr has dealt with so much dysfunction around him. It remains to be seen how Jimmy handles that chaos.
Per usual we had a buncha options on the direction to go with NONE being optimal imo
But you have to make a call
So the Q Ive been presenting the last week in Raider Forums: What category would you like to follow (1-5)
1- All In – Trade for Rodgers (can’t draft early neways) push out some cap go Big in free agency (Jessie Bates ). You get the point
2- Go for it- Maybe Trade up in draft for a Qb/ or maybe Rodgers with bargain free agents to fill out (the many) existing holes. Pushing some cap here too
3- C student- Jimmy G and a moderate free agency, no Qb this draft, play it close to the cuff (stifling upside but maybe if everything clicks still Wild card opportunity ) Cap stays legit
4- Play the market for bargains- Maybe trade Waller, sign a bridge Qb, no big commitments, play for the future
5- Liquidate the whole enchilada – Trade DAdams/Waller/whoever else for future picks- Trade down possibly when avail draft night- Secure the depth for a brighter tomorrow
Obv today we are probably seeing 3 unfold, but how would you have liked to go as of yesterday??…… I never like giving away years and punting and I know there is NO Good answer but I was at 5 yesterday and (as always) am fearful today when we do make movements
** I guess if only a theory Q you can have 6 as well- Kept Carr and ran it back – I think Ida liked that better than any of those 5….but again Never an easy answer with this team
6. Jimmy G plays 10 games, draft a QB in round one and sign a Mayfield/Wentz level backup.
All other draft and FA signings are pure defense. Offense is set if the INT’s stay down.
That’s at least a wild card.
On my list of alternatives:
1-No Rodgers, too expensive and might not be that good.
2-No Jackson. Draft cost would have been too steep.
3-No trading up. The top QBs in the draft are nothing special, imho.
I think the signing sets us up for more future success. The choices, for our needs, don’t vary that much between #7-#14. I’d trade back, pick up a #2, draft the best player available at OL or almost anywhere on defense, and draft Hooker.
Good. Gives me more of a reason to wear the Raiders beanie that I’ve already been wearing more of lately.
Honestly, it’s a great contract for Jimmy and the Raiders. He gets one more kick at the can with a coach who knows him. He’s not the star we thought he was but he’s $100 mil cheaper than Carr.
Groom your sons to be quarterbacks boys.
better to groom them to be left handed middle relief pitchers. Much longer career, less concussions and more of them so better chance of actually making it big.
Las Vegas, heh? Sounds like prime hunting ground for Garoppolo’s love life.
Jimmy’s on the move!
This is a very good signing. An affordable QB with a championship pedigree. Garoppolo has had no issues leading a team and is more than capable of running an offense competently.
Raiders should spend the money saved on offensive line though. Jimmy G is fragile. That said, the contract guarantees are light so if Garoppolo goes down for good in week 7, only one season is at risk and not five or seven (DeShaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers contracts).
Championship pedigree?? Sitting on the bench in N.E. doesn’t qualify