Report: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers to Talk Contract, Could Be Given Franchise Tag

The San Francisco 49ers reportedly "will work toward a multiyear extension" for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Per that report, the 49ers will use the franchise tag on Garoppolo if they can't negotiate a contract extension by March 6. 

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the Niners want to keep Garoppolo in San Francisco. He is 4-0 since taking over as the team's starting quarterback and has thrown for 1,268 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes in San Francisco.

As each game passes, the late October trade with the New England Patriots that brought Garoppolo to the Niners in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick is looking more like a home run for San Francisco. 

Garoppolo's presence not only means the Niners potentially have a franchise quarterback, but it also means they can focus their offseason attention on the rest of their roster.

Per Spotrac.com, the Niners have $117.9 million of cap space heading into the 2018 season. While some of that will go to Garoppolo—a projected $23.5 million if they use the franchise tag, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com—it still allows the team the freedom to chase a few high-profile free agents.

Garoppolo has also allowed head coach Kyle Shanahan the freedom to open up more of his playbook.

"He's able to expand the offensive installation with Jimmy," former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia said of the Shanahan-Garoppolo pairing on the 49ers Insider Podcast (h/t Maiocco). "Now that Jimmy has had a better chance to get a firm grip on the system and really start to bring everything he has within his playbook, you can see the capabilities of what this offense can produce."

If Garoppolo's first four starts are any indication, the ceiling is sky high—both for the offense and for what it will cost to keep Garoppolo with the franchise for the foreseeable future.