Quarterback speculation has taken over Super Bowl LV, and the 49ers find themselves right in the pen.
One year after Jimmy Garoppolo helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, San Francisco might be looking for a different direction. This off-season is expected to find an unprecedented amount of QBs new homes, and Garoppolo could be one of them. The 49ers allegedly still focused their eyes on what is currently considered the biggest price on the trading market.
“I can tell you, the 49ers, the Panthers (are) among the teams that are very interested in Deshaun Watson, just like the Jets,” Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports, said Sunday in the broadcast’s Super Bowl prediction program .
Watson has made it clear he wants to be outside Houston this season. However, according to reports, the Texane teams say they will not exchange the star quarterback. On top of that, they understandably want a ransom for the 25-year-old.
The Texans apparently said would at least like two drafts of the first round, two second rounds of the second round and two young beginners on defense in a Watson trade.
If the 49ers feel it’s too much, Kyle Shanahan apparently likes another young QB who could be available soon.
“Sources tell me 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is very high on Sam Darnold,” La Canfora also said. “If it’s a match, follow me here, the 49ers will trade Jimmy Garoppolo, and sources tell me Bill Belichick would like to have a Jimmy G reunion in New England.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that several teams had reached a possible deal for Darnold, and that the Jets did not turn down the calls, but were still deciding on the future of their QB. Former 49ers defense coordinator Robert Saleh is now the Jets’ head coach, and the two parties can work out an agreement to get Darnold to Santa Clara.
Darnold was far from his first three years in the league. The former no. 3 picks in the 2018 NFL draft completed just 59.8 percent of his passes, resulting in 45 touchdowns and 39 distinctions. But he is six years younger than Garoppolo and much cheaper. His contract costs just $ 4.7 million next season, which will help the 49ers sign other players.
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Shanahan may well feel that Darnold can still be a franchise quarterback in the right system, especially with weapons like George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel to throw at. A Jimmy G reunion in New England is not too easy, but never say.
A lot can happen in the next month plus. These rumors are not going to go away anytime soon. The stove is just starting to heat up.
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