With the quarterback market drying up and the 49ers seemingly overvaluing Garoppolo, the team may have to swallow its pride and take a less-desirable option.
Peter King of NBC Sports has one idea involving the Panthers.
"I don't think there's a good market at all [for Garoppolo]," King told Colin Cowherd on The Herd. "I think the 49ers are best off doing one of two things: Trying to trade him for Sam Darnold straight up with Carolina because I think Carolina would view that as an improvement, or hanging on to Jimmy until somebody gets hurt [before the start of the season]."
If the Panthers are uninterested, the 49ers might have no choice but to wait until late in the offseason to see if an NFL squad suddenly finds itself in desperate need of a quarterback. San Francisco is unlikely to ship Garoppolo to the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and would like to avoid cutting the quarterback outright.
"[By] that time, Jimmy Garoppolo is going to be healthy, going to be able to throw the ball well," King explained. "There's nothing wrong with the 49ers waiting. They shouldn't hand him to somebody."
Option one might be a deal worth pursuing if the 49ers promised Garoppolo that he would be elsewhere by a certain deadline. Of course, the quarterback recently undergoing shoulder surgery has not helped the situation.
"Colin, it could be that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan looked Jimmy in the eye and said, 'We promise we'll trade you,' or words to that effect," King added. "If they did, they might have to do something like [a deal for Darnold]. But if I were them right now, I would tell Jimmy, 'Be patient. You'll be somewhere by the trading deadline.'"
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
NFL insider predicts 49ers could trade Mac Jones to this NFC team
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated last week that he expects backup quarterback Mac Jones to remain with the team during the 2026 season. Despite that stance, trade speculation continues to follow the former first-round pick after his extended playing time... -
49ers expect Mac Jones back in 2026 as Shanahan and Lynch address trade talk
Speculation has surrounded the future of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones, even though he remains under contract for the 2026 season. Jones played a significant role this year while starter Brock Purdy recovered from a turf toe injury, prompting questions about whether... -
49ers WR Kendrick Bourne reacts to shocking Hall of Fame decision
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is not alone in his surprise over former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick failing to earn first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Tuesday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that... -
49ers denied request to interview Falcons secondary coach
The San Francisco 49ers were denied permission to interview Atlanta Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. The Falcons blocked San Francisco's request to speak with Hood, keeping him in place on their defensive staff. Pelissero did...