1. There’s no evidence that this is helpful to QB development, but let’s just pretend there is for a minute- I at least see the merit in the idea of not wanting a rookie to develop bad habits paying before they are ready. There have been tons of available QBs you could have signed and started. It truly only matters if SF thinks Garoppolo is so good that having him instead of Cam/Fitz/Dalton etc he meaningfully impacts their Super Bowl chances this year, and if they believe that, why are they trading all these picks to replace him? I think the trade up is a good idea; an above average QB on a rookie contract is like discovering plutonium. Rip the bandage off and trade Jimmy.Lumps wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:41 amI see both sides. They know what they have in Jimmy. They are primed to win now. Don't rock the boat. I think this is probably where their mind is on this?OhCruelestRanter wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:56 amNah. Your instinct here is right. It’s a mistake.
Here’s why- by not trading Garoppolo, you’re saying that he’s so much better than not only your rookie QB, but also Cam, Jameis, Dalton, Trubisky, Fitzpatrick, Mariota, Tyrod, and every other available placeholder that he tangibly changes your odds of winning a super bowl this year. This isn’t Alex Smith, who had no market in 2017 and was still tradable in 2018. They could have traded Garoppolo this off-season and next off-season the whole league will know that they’ll have to cut him.
If they keep Garoppolo and fall short of a Super Bowl, they screwed up. If they win the Super Bowl, but Garoppolo loses the job to their new starter, they screwed up. By keeping him, they’re betting on an extraordinarily narrow outcome.
Finally, there’s no evidence that sitting a QB their rookie year is some magic formula for future success. For every Mahomes there are two Wilsons, Herberts, Daks, Kylers, Jacksons, Allens, etc. who are doing just fine after taking over as rookies. I can see the argument for why you would want to avoid throwing a rookie QB into a bad situation (looking at you, Miami) but SF has a solid line and good receivers. Just start the rookie.
1. If it's Lance they want to groom him, not throw him in the fire, have him crack, and it be a busted pick.
2. Jimmy could rehab his value this season after getting hurt. Yes, everyone knows they will need to move him next year, but they know that now basically. Jimmy's value isn't so hot at the moment, but perhaps he brings something more (or at least the closes the gap on value loss) next year to make point 1 work?
2. The Patriots were quoted as having tried to trade for Garoppolo like a week and a half ago. Right now they have to “move on” from him, and sure that undercuts trade leverage, but they don’t need to cut him. Next year they will have to cut him- I’m not sure anybody is going to want to trade for him when they all know he’s going to be available as a free agent.