Now, it's tough to find a quarterback-needy team that might be a good fit for Garoppolo and is willing to give something up while financially committing to the quarterback.
Garoppolo's diminished trade value and offseason shoulder surgery have kicked off chatter that the quarterback playing elsewhere in 2022 isn't a foregone conclusion. It won't be from a lack of effort. The 49ers just haven't been able to move the quarterback. Some wonder if it might take an injury and an act of desperation for another team to pursue Garoppolo aggressively.
The plan has been to have last year's No. 3 overall pick, Trey Lance, transitioned into the starting role by 2022. Garoppolo still being on the roster in March doesn't change that. However, potentially being on the roster in August or September will at least complicate the situation.
"Garoppolo's market appears to be slow right now," Jeremy Fowler wrote for ESPN (h/t Haberman and Middlekauff). "Teams I've talked to have legitimate concern about the shoulder surgery and what that might mean for his offseason and the 2022 campaign."
In February, Lance said he expects to be San Francisco's starter come Week 1.
"That's the plan," Lance said. "That's my plan."
Nothing about this offseason has changed the 21-year-old quarterback's mind.
"Trey Lance has gotten the full impression behind the scenes that he will start in 2022," Fowler wrote. "So while the expectation is San Francisco will move Garoppolo eventually, it feels like the team is in a holding pattern on that."
Unlike a very vocal segment of the fanbase, no one inside the 49ers' building is panicking. The March 16 deadline to get under the $208.2 million salary cap has come and gone. San Francisco managed to shed enough salary to get there. General manager John Lynch admitted that the team always had a backup plan ready, should Garoppolo still be on the roster.
"I talked to a source who said the 49ers aren't in a major rush to move quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo," Fowler added. "The 49ers budgeted for this offseason knowing they could carry Garoppolo's $26 million cap hit and still do what's necessary in free agency and the draft from a cash standpoint."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers among teams under most pressure to 'ace their picks' in 2025 NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers are placing a significant bet on the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to uncover impactful contributors like they did a year ago. However, the heavy reliance on the 2024 rookie class came mainly out of necessity. Injuries ahead of them on the depth chart left head... -
Projection of Early Return of 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk Continues to Gain Traction
The big story of the 2024 pre-season in San Francisco was the long, arduous contract negotiation involving 49ers' star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. By the beginning of the regular season, his contract was done, but the drama continued. Aiyuk was viewed by some 49er fans... -
Kyle Shanahan Sees Tight End Luke Farrell As Prime 49ers Roster Asset
There are certainly other higher-profile roster moves taking place in San Francisco these days, but one of the lesser talked about changes may have a bigger impact on the 49ers' offense this year than some might expect. Three weeks ago, the 49ers signed free-agent tight end... -
Mock draft roundup: PFF, TDN, CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team project 49ers' moves
Mock draft season is in full swing, and several top news and analysis outlets have released their latest projections for the 2025 NFL Draft. Among them are Pro Football Focus (PFF), The Draft Network (TDN), CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team. Here's a look at what these analysts...