Everything points to the San Francisco 49ers trading quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. When and to whom remains the question. The team is expected to transition to Trey Lance in 2022, offloading this past season's starter and his $26.95 million salary-cap hit.
On Sunday, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo discussed the plan for the 49ers quarterback and why March 16 is an somewhat-important date.
"49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, emotional after the playoff loss here (at SoFi Stadium) a couple of weeks ago, knowing it's likely Trey Lance, and not him as the team's starting quarterback in 2022," Garafolo said on-air. "Now, Garoppolo has a no-trade clause for the next 31 days. It expires at the start of the league year on March 16. But I'm told that's not a huge factor because whether a trade agreement is reached before then or after then, it'll be a collaborative effort to find Garoppolo's next destination."
The 49ers can agree to a trade before that date, and make the move official on March 16. They will likely work with Garoppolo to identify a desirable destination.
"If [Garoppolo] does [leave], he deserves to go to a great situation, so I think they're going to make sure they do get that done if Jimmy does leave," Lance said this past week.
One other factor is Garoppolo will likely have offseason surgery—if he hasn't already—to repair the torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury he sustained during Week 16 and painfully played through in the playoffs.
Added Garafolo: "Now, you can connect the dots to quarterback-needy teams such as the Texans and the Saints, but those talks really haven't begun in earnest. They will soon, though."
The Super Bowl LVI @NFLGameDay Notebook with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: The #Bengals and Zac Taylor will work out a contract extension after today; The #Vikings will hire Kevin O'Connell & keep QB Kirk Cousins; The #49ers will try to trade Jimmy Garoppolo in the next month. pic.twitter.com/RndlQQYYk6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2022
Garoppolo has spent the past four-and-a-half seasons with the 49ers, leading the team to two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance but failing to win the big game. He threw for 3,810 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while completing 68.3 percent of his pass attempts in 2021.
Garoppolo owns a career record of 33-14 (not including the playoffs) as a starter.