Jimmy Garoppolo Rumors: 49ers Don't Plan to Trade QB Despite Moving Up in Draft
March 26, 2021
The San Francisco 49ers reportedly have no plans on trading quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo despite moving up in the 2021 NFL draft.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Niners will hold on to Garoppolo despite being "square in the QB mix" in the draft.
Per Schefter, the 49ers agreed Friday to trade the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
On the topic of Jimmy G, a 49ers source told Schefter: "Jimmy is here to stay. He's our guy this year."
The Niners have no shortage of options at their disposal at No. 3 overall, including at quarterback. Schefter noted that the 49ers didn't trade up "with one QB in mind." They did so because they're "good with the options" that should be available.
If San Francisco does indeed plan to take a quarterback who can sit and learn behind Garoppolo of a year or more, some of the possibilities include BYU's Zach Wilson, North Dakota State's Trey Lance and Ohio State's Justin Fields.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will almost certainly go first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the New York Jets could also opt to go quarterback at No. 2 overall if they don't view Sam Darnold as the long-term answer under center.
Garoppolo is 29, but he has started just 32 regular-season games in his NFL career thus far for various reasons.
He started his career as the backup to Tom Brady with the New England Patriots, and since getting traded to the 49ers in 2017, he has battled injuries.
Last season, Jimmy G missed 10 games due to a high-ankle sprain he suffered early in the season that never truly healed.
In the six games he started, Garoppolo went 3-3 and completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. In games Jimmy G didn't start, San Francisco went just 3-7.
It was a disappointing year for a 49ers team that went 13-3 one season prior and reached the Super Bowl thanks in part of Garoppolo's play.
The 2019 season was Jimmy G's first full campaign as a starter and he put up solid numbers, completing 69.1 percent of his attempts for 3,978 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 picks.
Garoppolo was almost exclusively a game manager during the playoffs, though, as the Niners leaned on their defense and running game. He completed a total of 17 passes in the 49ers' two playoff wins before the Super Bowl before throwing for 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trading up to No. 3 overall may be an indictment on Garoppolo as the long-term answer at quarterback in San Francisco, but if it is true that the 49ers plan to keep and start him in 2021, he will have an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.