Two years ago, Jimmy Garoppolo was starting for the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Now, some are questioning whether or not he’ll even be on the team’s rosters once the 2021 NFL Season begins.
The 29-year-old has a history of being labeled as being “injury prone.” In four seasons with the 49ers, Garoppolo has played in just 31 games, including six last season. If the 49ers want to compete, they need a quarterback who can stay healthy.
Adding to the idea that they may move on from Garoppolo, the 49ers traded three first-round picks and a third to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.
If San Francisco drafts Justin Fields or Zach Wilson at No. 3, could the Jimmy Garoppolo Era be over? After all, you don’t trade all those picks to draft a quarterback you don’t plan on building the team around.
According to Bovada, the odds are at -300 that Garoppolo will play for the 49ers when Week 1 comes around.
Which Team Will Jimmy Garoppolo Play For Game 1 of the 2021 NFL Season?
Odds via Bovada as of Tuesday, March 30
- San Francisco 49ers -300
- New England Patriots +350
- Minnesota Vikings +700
- Denver Broncos +700
- Houston Texans +1000
- Carolina Panthers +1000
Jimmy Garoppolo Likely to Remain a 49er
It could be tough for the 49ers to move Jimmy Garoppolo. He has two years left on his current contract with a $26.4 million cap hit this coming season, so any team that acquires him would need to show commitment.
There’s also the chance that if the 49ers take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick, that player may not be ready to start in the NFL. If that’s the case, the team will need a quarterback who can win with the roster they’ve assembled. When healthy, Jimmy Garoppolo has shown that he can be that guy. In the 2019 season when the 49ers made a Super Bowl run, Garoppolo went 13-3-0, throwing 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Reunion with Belichick and the Patriots?
It’s hard to remember, but the New England Patriots (+350) drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014 to be Tom Brady’s heir. But Brady never ended up retiring, so the Patriots shipped Garoppolo out to San Francisco.
However, recent rumors indicate that Patriots coach Bill Belichick may want to bring Garoppolo back to the team. After all, some experts say that Belichick never wanted to trade the quarterback in the first place.
While Cam Newton is the Patriots current starting quarterback, his first season with the time was underwhelming as he only threw eight touchdowns in 15 games. Stats like that won’t help the Patriots after they’ve made it clear that they want to compete immediately. On the other hand, Jimmy Garoppolo knows New England’s system in and out. If the Patriots think that experience can help them win now, don’t be surprised if Garoppolo ends up being Brady’s heir after all.
Jimmy Garoppolo to Minnesota in Swap for Kirk Cousins?
Back in February, reports came out that the 49ers wanted to trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was Cousins’ offensive coordinator back in Washington nearly a decade ago, so the familiarity is there. If the Vikings are open to trading Cousins and believe that Jimmy Garoppolo could be their starter, a trade is possible (+700). However, it’s important to remember that this rumor began in February and the 49ers have since traded for the No. 3 pick, so they may not want Cousins anymore. Still, if the Vikings ship Cousins elsewhere and they truly like Garoppolo, they can always circle back.
Cousins has a $31 million cap hit in 2021 and $45 million next season.
