The San Francisco 49ers are hoping that they can also achieve what the Cleveland Browns have pulled off regarding Baker Mayfield.
The Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That pick could become a fourth-rounder if Mayfield ends up playing 70 percent of the snaps in the upcoming season.
While Cleveland will still pay $10 million of Mayfield’s $18.8 million base salary, what’s important is that they have averted a messy situation.
There’s no way that Mayfield would play for the Browns again after they essentially abandoned him for Deshaun Watson.
Even if Watson won’t play in 2022, Mayfield and the Browns agreed that it’s best to move on.
That said, the 49ers are hoping that they could do the same thing with Jimmy Garoppolo.
After deciding upon Trey Lance as their Week 1 starter, it was necessary for San Francisco to part ways with their veteran quarterback.
Retaining him on the bench will be counterproductive to Lance’s success and to their salary cap.
By trading Garoppolo, the 49ers can get rid of either his entire $24 million salary in 2022 or parts of it.
However, Good Morning Football host Peter Schrager admits that the situation is grim for the Niners.
Now, what to do with Jimmy G? It appears as though the viable potential “chairs” are filled at the moment.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) July 6, 2022
Schrager tweeted, “Now, what to do with Jimmy G? It appears as though the viable potential ‘chairs’ are filled at the moment.”
Options For San Francisco Regarding Garoppolo
With the Panthers trading for Mayfield, the Seattle Seahawks may be the only team interested in adding another quarterback.
But if they did not initiate a trade with the younger quarterback in Mayfield, it’s hard to see them going for Garoppolo.
Besides, he will be a bridge quarterback for the Seahawks and they have Drew Lock and Geno Smith anyway.
Therefore, it’s also realistic for the 49ers to waive Garoppolo.
When that happens, he will only count for $1.4 million against the cap.
Given that no team might claim him, he will end up being a free agent and teams might get him for a lower rate.
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