Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Peter King weighs in on Jimmy Garoppolo’s status with 49ers, future with Patriots
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
NBC Sports' Peter King weighed in on Jimmy Garoppolo, his status with the San Francisco 49ers, and his potential future with the New England Patriots, the team the quarterback spent his first three-and-a-half NFL seasons with.
First, the 49ers.
Count King among those who aren't confident that San Francisco will trade Garoppolo this year. The team has publicly stated that it plans to enter Week 1 with Garoppolo as the starter. Nothing the 49ers do at No. 3 may change that. Head coach Kyle Shanahan seems content with letting a rookie sit and learn for a year, which will be extremely beneficial considering his offense's complexity.
Said general manager John Lynch last week: "
We went to ownership, said, '... We'd like to make this move (to trade up in the draft for a quarterback), but we also don't want to say goodbye to Jimmy. We think with Jimmy, we've shown we can get to a Super Bowl with him. We can play at a high level. And we don't think those two things have to be mutually exclusive.'"
The 49ers know they can win with Garoppolo. His availability is the main concern. The quarterback missed 23 games over the past three seasons, including 10 games last year due to ankle injuries. That prompted San Francisco to trade into the No. 3 spot and search for a suitable quarterback of the future, with "future" being the keyword.
Garoppolo is the odds-on favorite, at least internally, to be the Week 1 starter.
"This trade for the third pick in the draft is meant to enrich the quarterback position more than it is to dump Garoppolo," wrote King in his
latest Football Morning in America feature. "In fact, I'll be very surprised if they move the oft-injured incumbent, because how can you count on a rookie to play at a high level five months after the draft? You can't."
Next, the Patriots.
King isn't optimistic that New England makes a move to acquire Garoppolo this year. The team has been rumored to covet Garoppolo still, and head coach Bill Belichick was seen chatting with Lynch and Shanahan at Alabama's pro day, prompting all kinds of speculation. While New England may still be interested in a reunion with the 49ers quarterback, the team's outlook could change during the draft.
"When Bill Belichick worked under Bill Parcells with the Giants, I know he had to hear Parcells harp on availability being more important than ability," wrote King, "and I just can't see Belichick making a big investment (in a pick and in a contract) in a guy who's missed 23 games in the last three years due to injury. Plus, if New England gets a quarterback, somehow, high in this draft, they'd have salary-manageability and a young prospect, and the yearning for Garoppolo goes away. If the Patriots don't get a quarterback this year, I could see them pursue Garoppolo on the cheap in 2022."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Daniel Jeremiah weighs in on 49ers potentially trading up in the draft
Today, NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke to the media during a nearly two-hour conference call, fielding questions about the 2024 NFL Draft. One question surrounded the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers trading up in the first round to increase their chances of landing an impact player.
Depending on the 49ers' priorities, Jeremiah only believes a significant move is necessary if the team tries to target a couple of defensive positions.
"I mean, they've got a nice haul of picks here, so if they want to move up, they absolutely have the ammunition to do so," Jeremiah stated. "I just think when you look at the needs that they have and some of the different areas that they could go, if you're thinking about corners and edge rushers, maybe you miss
ESPN analyst weighs in on 49ers potentially drafting a wide receiver
The San Francisco 49ers will likely add a rookie wide receiver via the draft, and it has nothing to do with Brandon Aiyuk's current contract situation. Deebo Samuel is about as physical a player as you'll find at the position, so wear and tear, along with his significant salary, has to be a concern. Jauan Jennings is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The 49ers have tried to address the position recently, drafting Ronnie Bell in the seventh round last year and Danny Gray in the third round in 2022. While it's too early to judge Bell, Gray has played only 87 offensive snaps as a pro. His career stat line is unimpressive, recording only one reception for 10 yards on seven targets.
One ESPN analyst and 49ers fan, Matt Miller, admits to being
Former 49ers teammate campaigns for reunion with Brandon Aiyuk on Patriots
The San Francisco 49ers are optimistic they can negotiate a contract extension with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Recognizing the impending significant investment, the team has been strategically planning for the day when Aiyuk's contract demands must be accommodated.
Despite the team's assurance that signing Aiyuk remains a priority, speculation continues to circulate within NFL circles, often involving Aiyuk's name in trade rumors. In March, general manager John Lynch addressed these rumors, stating that the 49ers are actively engaged in discussions with Aiyuk and his representatives while
Brock Purdy aims to take 'next steps' with 49ers, addresses future contract
Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group caught up with Brock Purdy over the weekend as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback hosted his inaugural youth football camp at Levi's Stadium. Today, Purdy and most of his teammates will report to the team for the start of the offseason program, which will be limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation over the next couple of weeks.
While this offseason holds significance for Purdy as he seeks to build upon an impressive 2023 campaign that saw him set a single-season franchise
