The Cleveland Browns and San Fransisco 49ers are in very similar situations with their quarterbacks. Both seem ready to move on from the starter that has led them to the playoffs recently and both would turn the team over to a quarterback they paid a huge price to acquire.
While the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson despite all of his off-the-field concerns, the Niners acquired Trey Lance by trading up in the 2021 NFL draft.
Yet, despite those huge investments, Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo remain on the rosters. Recently, it was suggested that the two teams could work out a trade to swap the quarterbacks.
ESPN polled league executives, coaches and agents on the two veteran quarterbacks that have been in limbo all offseason. Both have shoulder issues that they are recovering from, adding to their similarities.
While Mayfield’s guaranteed deal makes his future more complicated, San Fransisco could release Garoppolo as soon as he is healthy enough to pass a physical because his contract is not guaranteed.
According to ESPN’s poll (subscriber, $), many around the league expect both to be released:
The majority of the people to whom I spoke for this story believe both players will likely end up being released. A couple of people thought Garoppolo might still draw trade interest, provided an acquiring team could work out something to knock down the salary or spread it out over a couple of years.
If the Niners do release Garoppolo, Mayfield’s trade value would hit another huge pothole. Garoppolo has been more consistent, seems to be beloved in the locker room, wouldn’t need to be traded for at that point and, most likely, would cost less on the salary cap.
With both quarterbacks given excused absences from mandatory minicamp, it does not seem either team is close to making a move. Time will tell if the group ESPN talked to has the pulse of both situations leading to releases.