While the possibility of Jimmy Garoppolo landing with the Seattle Seahawks has been a hot topic this week, discussion of another potential landing spot is receiving less attention. No, not the Cleveland Browns, who await suspension news on quarterback Deshaun Watson. It's Watson's former team, the Houston Texans.
While Houston has expressed little concern about entering the 2022 season with second-year quarterback Davis Mills helming the offense, Garoppolo would seemingly be an upgrade if the team wants to win more games. There is a connection too. Texans general manager Nick Caserio was the director of player personnel in New England when the Patriots drafted Garoppolo.
One Texans insider can't envision a scenario where Garoppolo ends up with the Texans, though. Respected reporter John McClain, retired from the Houston Chronicle and now with Sports Radio 610, joined the Bay Area's KNBR on Friday and shared his thoughts on the Garoppolo to the Texans chatter.
"First of all, he's not coming to Houston. They have no interest," McClain shared on the Murph & Mac show. "They are sold on Davis Mills from Stanford at least being a starter going into this season. If he can do it, that's great for them. If he can't, they have two number one picks, including Cleveland's. Eleven picks overall right now to help them acquire a quarterback in a great quarterback draft.
"But the coach, Lovie Smith, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, and the general manager, Nick Caserio, they're sold on Davis Mills' potential. The last five games last year—[nine] touchdowns, two interceptions, a [102.4 passer] rating. So he's the guy. Jimmy G is not coming here."
McClain also isn't buying into the Garoppolo-to-Seahawks chatter. Instead, he believes the 49ers should hold onto their veteran quarterback, let him play in the preseason, and show that his surgically repaired shoulder is 100 percent.
"Hang onto him until a quarterback [on another team] goes down, and then you trade him for a conditional pick based on what he does and what the [aquiring] team does," McClain adds. "You're going to get a lot more for him than you're going to get now because people don't even know if he can throw the ball anymore right now."
You can listen to the entire conversation with McClain, which includes a lot of Houston Astros talk, below.