49ers Rumors: Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Market Isn't 'Hot' Ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly doesn't have a "hot" trade market ahead of this week's 2022 NFL draft.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Wednesday the Niners may have to wait until Garoppolo shows he's fully healed from March shoulder surgery, a recovery period that's projected to end late June or early July, before they can expect fair-market value in a deal.

San Francisco has strongly hinted toward the transition to Trey Lance, the third pick in the 2021 draft, as its new starting quarterback for 2022, but the rest of the market has played out while Garoppolo has remained in place.

Now, with a limited number of teams still seeking a veteran starter, 49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday there's a scenario where the 30-year-old Eastern Illinois product stays on their roster.

"Absolutely," Lynch told reporters. "I said at the owners' meetings, guys like that don't fall out of trees. He's a good player at a position where they're hard to find. And so, you certainly don't just give guys like that away, and we can, I guess, foot the bill, if you want to describe it as that. And so, we'll be patient with that one."

Garoppolo has one season remaining on his five-year, $137.5 million contract and, while having a proven backup behind a first-time starter carries some value, the Niners would be better off trying to find a trade partner, even at a slightly reduced asking price.

The main reason is the financial flexibility. Jimmy G is scheduled to count $26.95 million against the salary cap this season, and San Francisco has the least amount of space available heading into the draft at just over $860,000, per Spotrac.

While the front office can restructure some contracts to ensure it has the money to sign its draft picks, clearing a significant amount of space for the necessary midseason signings will lead to far fewer headaches throughout the year.

It's also better for both Lance and Garoppolo if a trade for the latter arises.

Lance needs to play the entire season for better or worse. A situation where there's pressure to take him out of the lineup after a bad stretch will only hinder his long-term development.

Garoppolo would also benefit from a situation where he'd be the full-time starter so he can enter free agency next offseason on a high note rather than after a year when he was the backup.

So, while Lynch is trying to maintain some leverage by saying he's willing to keep Garoppolo, finding a trade is the far more desirable outcome for everyone involved.