Earlier this week, CBS Sports compiled a list of every NFL team's most questionable offseason move, and pointed to the Jimmy Garoppolo saga for the San Francisco 49ers, which still remains unanswered as mandatory minicamp has concluded.
While there were several potential choices, such as San Francisco's contract negotiations with Deebo Samuel that ultimately resulted in a trade request by the fourth-year receiver, CBS Sports's Jordan Dajani believed that the outcome of the Garoppolo situation was the most questionable move.
"We could discuss something related to Deebo Samuel here, but it seems like the two sides are headed in the right direction when it comes to a potential extension," wrote Dajani. "A situation that came across as more questionable was the handling of Jimmy G. When Garoppolo went under the knife for his shoulder surgery, ESPN reported that it wasn't an issue that was supposed to affect his trade market. Well, it actually dramatically affected his trade market, and that's something we probably should have been able to predict. Where did that tidbit of information come from? The 49ers themselves?
"Just weeks later, 49ers general manager John Lynch was reportedly telling potentially interested teams that they had an offer of two second-round picks for Garoppolo on the table, according to Pro Football Talk. Well if that was the case, then they should have immediately accepted! Maybe the 49ers overestimated what they could get in trade compensation, which is something the Browns did with Baker Mayfield as well. Either the 49ers passed on a great offer, or more likely, overshot in trade talks. Now, they're in a weird spot."
During the offseason, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan both admitted that Garoppolo's shoulder surgery disrupted San Francisco's potential plans, causing them to change directions from a trade.
"It never got to that point [of a trade offer]," Lynch admitted prior to the draft. "There were certainly the various discussions with different places in terms of how far along, but [the surgery] certainly threw a wrench in those things. You adapt and you move forward. Like we said, we like the things that Jimmy brings to the table, and so we're doing what we think is best for our team and for Jimmy by keeping him with us for right now."
As training camp approaches in late July, Garoppolo, and his $24.2 million salary for 2022, remain on the roster, although the focus in the building has shifted to second-year quarterback Trey Lance, whom the organization is high on as their starter.
