This week, Jeremy Fowler suggested that everyone might want to keep their eyes on the Seattle Seahawks regarding potential suitors for Jimmy Garoppolo. It would be unexpected if the San Francisco 49ers traded the quarterback to a division rival, creating a situation where they would have to face him twice a year. However, if there are no other suitors, the Niners might have to consider it at least.
The Cleveland Browns have been touted as a potential destination. They wait to hear the fate of quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has faced 24 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. The league could suspend him for much or all of the 2022 season.
Then you hear the Houston Texans' name every now and then in Garoppolo chatter. That's primarily because of general manager Nick Caserio, who was the director of player personnel in New England when the Patriots drafted Garoppolo.
Fowler doesn't necessarily see the Browns or the Texans getting involved in a strong pursuit of Garoppolo.
"I don't know that I would say Cleveland is a big suitor," Fowler said Tuesday on KNBR's Tolbert & Copes show. "I think they're pretty comfortable with Jacoby Brissett. They got him as a bridge quarterback. They know they might need that sort of depth to make it work. They have Josh Dobbs too. ... I don't think they feel they have enough draft capital to really do anything like that. So we'll see what kind of moves they might make.
"But Houston maybe because of the Nick Caserio connection there with the GM. But even that, they really like Davis Mills, so it would be sort of a surprise to see that kind of move as well."
Garoppolo has been the 49ers' starter for the past four-and-a-half seasons. He is entering the final year of his contract, but none of the remaining money is guaranteed. San Francisco can release the quarterback at any point before the start of the season without much of a penalty. Ideally, the team would like to trade Garoppolo instead of cutting him and receiving nothing in return.
49ers players report to training camp on July 26. Last month, head coach Kyle Shanahan shared that he expects Garoppolo to practice if he remains on the roster at the start of training camp.
"I'll think about that when that day comes," Shanahan said. "But [if] Jimmy's under contract with us, and he's healthy, right now, I would see him coming to practice unless we traded him."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Fowler below.