Now that the NFL season is officially over, it's time for the San Francisco 49ers to decide what to do with their polarizing quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Obviously, they'll want to get the most bang for their buck after trading away 3 first round picks to move up on draft day to select Trey Lance with the 3rd overall pick.
Let's take a moment and look at this from Jimmy G's perspective.
If I were Jimmy G, assuming that staying in San Francisco is off the table, I would want to go to a contender obviously. I would also want to go to a team that has a roster that resembles the 49ers. A team with a strong ground game and stout defense. A team that wouldn't need or ask him to do anything more than just not lose the game for them. When we look around the NFL currently, there are a handful of QB needy teams that would surely be a playoff contender, if not Super Bowl contender, by trading for Garoppolo. The Broncos, Steelers, Commanders, and Browns are a few teams I think should definitely be kicking the idea around. All of those teams have a solid defense and backfield. I could be wrong but, every one of those teams would have a very strong chance to win their division with him under center. Obviously being a contender to win your division is not a bad position to be in. However, when you've won a Super Bowl as Tom Brady's backup and started in 2 NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, being a contender to win your division just isn't enough. And that's why, if I were Jimmy G, I would want the Indianapolis Colts to do whatever they can to trade for me this offseason, assuming Aaron Rodgers is not available of course.
The Colts are built to win now, and they have not just a solid, but an outstanding defense and elite running back. They were in the same position as the 49ers in week 18, win and in. They were upset by the lowly Jaguars while Garoppolo and the 49ers overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Rams and make the playoffs. I'm not saying Jimmy G is the sole reason that the Niners were able to come back in that game. However, I am saying had the two teams swapped quarterbacks that day, the Colts would have been the ones to get into the post-season and not the 49ers. All you need to do is look at what Frank Reich was able to do with Phillip Rivers to get a good feel for the potential they would have with Jimmy G. While he's definitely not Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, Garoppolo is definitely more mobile than Rivers. And while he's definitely not Tom Brady or Rodgers, he's better at processing information and decision making than Carson Wentz. Garoppolo has shown that with the right supporting cast he can take a team on a deep playoff run and even be in position to win the big game. Indianapolis has that type of supporting cast and would be my preferred destination, if I were Jimmy G.
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