What would be an acceptable trade value for Jimmy Garoppolo if you are the San Francisco 49ers? What kind of offer would make you drop everything, finalize a deal, and stop all of this offseason speculation?
How about a second-round pick?
According to John Middlekauff, the 49ers might have that kind of offer on the table, as unbelievable as it sounds.
"I would say if they got a three and a two, how is that humanly possible?" Middlekauff said on his podcast with Guy Haberman while debating if they have been undervaluing Garoppolo's trade value. "Listen, I got a text yesterday that someone told them—and they're like, 'I even think it's crazy'—that there's a two on the table.
"Khalil Mack just got traded for a two, and I get that quarterbacks are much more important than pass rushers, and there's a supply-and-demand issue. There's also a draft issue. ... Props to the Niners if they're able to pull that s--t off."
Props to the Niners, indeed. However, if that offer is on the table, why haven't the 49ers counted their blessings and closed the deal? Are they still waiting to see if another team gets more desperate than the one (rumored to be) already offering a second-round pick? Maybe it's a lower-round conditional pick that could become a second-round pick in a future draft. Maybe it's a second-round pick in 2023. We obviously don't have all the details, and Middlekauff didn't have more information to provide.
Still, the former NFL scout turned podcast host believes such a deal by general manager John Lynch and company, if true, should be applauded.
Middlekauff added, "If you get a second-round pick—so you acquire him for a second, you got a second, and you got everything in the middle—that would be one of the most incredible transactions I've ever seen because part of it is I don't think he's worthy of that."
Garoppolo has served as the 49ers' starting quarterback since Week 13 of the 2017 season. Since then, he is 31-14 as a starter but underwent shoulder surgery this week. The good news is that Garoppolo is expected to be fully cleared for the start of training camp—wherever he ends up playing.