Washington Football Team: Exploring every potential quarterback trade target
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
Even though Jimmy Garoppolo was the starting quarterback for the 49ers during their run to the Super Bowl less than a year ago, it seems that the team may be ready to go in a different direction at the spot this year.
Simply put, Garoppolo hasn’t lived up to expectations with the 49ers. After he came in via trade from the New England Patriots, his future looked incredibly bright. In his first year with the 49ers after a midseason trade, he led the team to a 5-0 record in his starts and was a rock-solid starter for them. With only seven games of starting experience under his belt, the sky was the limit for him.
However, the next three years would prove trying for the 49ers and Garoppolo. Twice, Jimmy G has seen his season end extremely early due to an injury. In 2018, he suffered a torn ACL after playing just three games. In 2020, he suffered an ankle injury that hampered him throughout the year and caused him to play in just six games.
Sandwiched between there was his best season, the NFC-winning campaign that saw him complete 69.1 percent of his passes, rack up 3,978 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Even still, Garoppolo had some lowlights that year, as he had some issues with turnovers and performed poorly when the Niners held a lead in the second half of the Super Bowl. That’s part of what cost them a chance at the title.
Between all of the issues, it seems that Kyle Shanahan and Co. are ready to look at some new QB options. As such, Garoppolo may be on the outs. His contract is a bit pricey given his injury history — cap hits of $27 and $26 million in the final two years of his deal — but given that Garoppolo is still just 29, it could be worth throwing a late-round pick in the 49ers’ direction if a team believes Garoppolo can be a quarterback upgrade for them.
Washington should at least consider the possibility that Garoppolo could work out. Yes, they already have a quarterback with a checkered injury history in Alex Smith, but if he calls it quits and Garoppolo is healthy, he could effectively lead this offense if the team focuses on adding a true No. 2 receiver during the offseason. And since only a few teams could afford to take on Garoppolo’s contract, Washington may be able to get him on the cheap, if they so desire.
If the other top options on the market aren’t available, Garoppolo would be a good buy-low opportunity for Washington. He would help them complete their San Francisco-style rebuild and create a team that will rely on defense to win, but has enough firepower to score. We’ll see if Washington has any interest in a player like Jimmy G, but don’t forget about him amid the other bigger-name players on the trade market.