SANTA CLARA, Calif. — By contract, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo He remains a member of the San Francisco 49ers, and somehow the sides have remained cordial during an offseason that was supposed to see them part ways in March.
To this point, neither the Niners nor Garoppolo have been in a rush to find a solution, in large part because Garoppolo’s right shoulder surgery derailed early offseason business plans. But Garoppolo and the Niners are increasingly eager to part ways with a 53-man roster deadline looming on August 30. Making the initial list would guarantee your salary against the cap.
“I think everyone does [want to find an answer],” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I think he has handled it very well, but it is the reality of this business. It is the reality of everything. Sometimes you have to expect things, and I think he understands that. You always wish he was different, but this is business and he understands that.”
Garoppolo reported for the start of training camp on Tuesday and passed his physical, clearing the Niners of the $7.5 million injury liability on his contract. He’s not practicing with the team, but he’s taking part in a detailed launch schedule designed to have him ready when he lands elsewhere.
Garoppolo is allowed to enter and leave the team facility as he pleases. He mainly does his rehab and release program and then leaves for the day. He was seen in the team’s weight room on the opening day of camp and has been seen running and conditioning on a side field, but he hasn’t stayed for practices or participated in meetings.
“Jimmy is training hard, throwing the ball hard,” Shanahan said. “I’m not going to tell you everything that’s on my mind, but you can tell when I tell you that we have to do what’s right for this organization. And we’re going to do everything we can to make it the best it can be.” the best I can for Jimmy, while always doing what’s right for this organization at the same time.”
With deebo samuelWith the contract over, all eyes now turn to Garoppolo’s situation. Here’s what we know and what’s next:
Why does an operation take so long?
The combination of shoulder surgery and the number of better, healthier quarterbacks available in the offseason has made it difficult for the 49ers to make a trade. Initial interest faded when Garoppolo opted for surgery in March, and when he started pitching in late June, most of the open quarterback seats were filled.
Despite the speculation, the Niners kept Garoppolo because of questions about the second-year quarterback. trey lanceShanahan made it clear that’s not the case by stating that Lance had taken over as No. 1 quarterback the day the team reported to camp.
Will Garoppolo play in 49ers preseason games?
There’s little reason to believe Garoppolo will practice or play for the Niners again. Shanahan has said so, and there are financial ramifications if Garoppolo suffers another injury. He is scheduled to count $26.9 million against the 2022 salary cap with a base salary of $24.2 million. However, none of that money is guaranteed.
But Garoppolo’s salary could be guaranteed if he were to get injured again, which is why Shanahan has shot down most scenarios about him playing for the 49ers again.
“I don’t give anything outright, so yeah, I’m sure I could think on stage,” Shanahan said. “But I think I said before that that would surprise me and I still feel that way.”
What are some possible landing places?
The list of possibilities has shrunk significantly throughout the offseason, culminating in baker mayfield being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers.
Coincidentally, the most likely remaining landing spot appears to be Cleveland, though that will depend on a potential suspension — and the length of that potential suspension — for the quarterback. deshaun watson. The Browns would give Garoppolo a chance to team up with a contender and rehabilitate his value while giving the Browns a proven option.
The Seattle Seahawks could also be an option, though their place in the NFC West complicates the deal. But there is a Shanahan-led precedent for a quarterback trade within a division. When Kyle and Mike Shanahan were in Washington, they made a deal for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. These agreements may be more difficult to achieve, but they are not impossible.
Other teams that might be interested in Garoppolo at a reduced price (both in trade and financial compensation) include the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Houston Texans.
“We’re not trying to fool ourselves or play any games,” Shanahan said. “I think the whole league understands that. But you also can’t give one of the best quarterbacks in the league just to make him available to everybody for no reason.”
The notion that the 49ers would need to eat away at some of his salary like the Panthers did with Mayfield doesn’t have much validity given that Mayfield’s salary was guaranteed while Garoppolo’s isn’t. However, it makes sense for Garoppolo to rework his deal in the event of a trade, giving him the chance to get some guaranteed money, which he currently has none of.
Will the Niners finally have to release Garoppolo?
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have insisted they won’t give Garoppolo away. But this has gone on so long that a deadline is now looming on the horizon. Other than injury, the only other way to guarantee Garoppolo’s salary in 2022 is for him to make the starting 53-man roster on August 30.
If a trade hasn’t gone through by then, it’s hard to imagine the 49ers keeping Garoppolo on such a high guaranteed salary.
For his part, Garoppolo has so far avoided applying for his release, but the longer he waits to join a new team, the less chance he has of winning a job or being ready to play at his next destination.