San Francisco 49ers: Rebuild accelerated with Jimmy Garoppolo trade
The San Francisco 49ers have their quarterback of the future by trading for Jimmy Garoppolo, and have jumped to the next stage of their rebuild as a result.
The San Francisco 49ers sent shockwaves through the NFL on Monday as they struck a trade with the New England Patriots for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Per multiple reports, the Niners have sent a 2018 second-round pick to New England to acquire Garoppolo.
For the Patriots, who earlier this season traded Jacoby Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts, it raises further questions over how long Tom Brady can go on and what their long-term plan is at the position. Now, they no longer have a ready-made successor behind him.
On the 49ers’ side of the deal, however, the instant reaction should be one of excitement. With Garoppolo in place, the Niners have their quarterback of the future and can now move on with the next stage of their rebuild.
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Garoppolo is a free agent at the end of the season, but it is highly likely the 49ers will hand him a lucrative extension soon (though nothing is confirmed or certain). And, with Garoppolo having started just two games in his NFL career, that contract should not cost San Francisco as much as a deal to sign Washington Redskins starter Kirk Cousins in the offseason would have done.
The deal also, in the grand scheme of things, cost them little in terms of draft capital. San Francisco still has a pick in the 2018 second round courtesy of the draft-day deal they made with New Orleans this year, when the Saints moved up to take Alvin Kamara.
At this point it is far too soon to say whether Garoppolo is the answer under center, but it was already clear third-round pick C.J. Beathard wasn’t.
With recent moves the #49ers have a strong chance to have well north of $100M in cap space for the 2018 season. Should be fun.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 31, 2017
In making this move the 49ers have secured their future at quarterback for a reasonable price and still have eight 2018 draft picks, with four in the first three rounds, as well as north of $100 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, with which to fill the many other holes on the roster.
Next: 49ers: 5 Reasons Jimmy Garoppolo trade is brilliant
San Francisco may not have a win in 2017 but, with a player who they clearly believe is a franchise quarterback on the roster, the 49ers are ready to start assembling a roster with which Garoppolo can help them contend.