In a fairly shocking development, the 49ers traded one of their two 2nd round picks for the services of one Jimmy Garappolo, the backup QB for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. This trade is stunning to me as it shows a lot of things behind the thinking of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. This isn’t a ‘win now’ kind of trade, but it is a look at the future of the quarterback spot.
Jimmy G is not a fairly well- known commodity, but he is young and his small body of work (17 games) he’s has 5 TDs and 0 picks in pretty much nothing but garbage time. His one shot when Tom Terrific cooled his heels for deflated balls he beat the Cardinals, and got hurt while throwing for 234 against the Dolphins.
Garoppolo is on the last year of his deal, so you have to think that this is basically a try-out for him for a big deal here. I’m not sure if this changes the thinking around Kirk Cousins but to me it throws a little shade on the supposed love affair between Kirk and Kyle.
This could be a determining factor on the 1st round pick next year as well. They could conceivably forego a QB in the draft and instead go elsewhere if Jimmy Garoppolo works out and they pay him the proverbial king’s ransom.
AS I said, this isn’t a ‘win now’ kind of thing, but it also shows that these guys aren’t very happy with the state of the QBing so far. Hoyer was let go, and he was originally part of the trade, but the Pats would have lost a compensatory pick apparently, so here we sit. With a new possible future QB and a shitload of questions that will be answered come December 31st.
As a postscript, Jimmy won’t play this weekend against the Cards.
Forty Niners Forever 
Hoyer backed up Brady along the way already, potentially he could land there on the cheap again.
I’m fine with the move since I thought he would have been an option when Chip was here, given his connections to Belichick and all.
Hopefully Jimmy wants to be here long term.
Otherwise, it’s a potential rental which wouldn’t go over so well.
I’ll assume we can make him happy financially with the Cap revenue available to us.
Call me satisfied from the perspective that it likely will negate the need to get caught up in the Draft a QB-hype.
I’d bet a ton of money Hoyer goes back. The Pats only have one QB right now. Some hack named Braady.
Hoyer would be an effective back-up to Brady whereas in Santa Clara he was damn near useless. Everyone wasn’t happy with the QB situation and the need for change became apparent after this latest fiasco. Beathard is more ready to be the back-up and going with only him was unacceptable. The losing will continue no matter who is QB so more changes are coming and of course it will not save this sorry season.
Belch!
I like the trade also but I hope we didn’t give a 2nd for 8 weeks worth of work.
By getting him now, the Niners can apply the franchise tag to him if they want. Assuming they like him after the season, I assume they’ll try to sign him. Either way, he’ll be a Niner one way or the other if they want him.
I’m positive Garapalo is the answer to all the 49er troubles. There’s no doubt this will be the answer to all of your prayers. I’m happy for you all.
It can’t get any worse. Hoyer was dead meat in Santa Clara. Beathard is green.
Garappolo has one advantage and that’s mentoring under Tom Brady. I’ve only seen him play a quarter or so, so I don’t really know what we’re getting, but he certainly can’t be any worse than what we’ve seen so far. And how could he not be happy coming to SC? He has a legitimate shot to earn the starting QB job for the SF 49ers.
Gotta figure Jimmy would be cheaper than Kirk in the long run.
I just want to avoid rolling the dice on a College QB with Pick 1 in April.
Let someone else buy our Pick and take the risk.
We need extra Picks not wait and see potential.
Shanny has 6yrs and all but, Jimmy is well ahead of the learning curve at this point.
Maybe getting him now is a smart move. We can evaluate what his skills really are, kick the tires a little and after 8 weeks we should have a better idea if we want to keep him. I know NE likes to work out of the shotgun a lot but I think KS likes the QB under the center for the most part. I could be wrong on that one.
No, that about fits Winder.
The bigger concern is keeping the QB upright.
Decision making and game speed should come much easier to Jimmy at least.
CJ needs time to adjust, as would any Rookie we’d Draft in April.
Jimmy is ahead of the game in those terms.
If the Offense could at least move the chains some, the Defense might stand a chance to keep things close.
Our issues are getting into a rhythm on Offense.
Timing is everything in this WCO scheme.
Hesitate, even a tick, and all is lost.
I still love the Defensive game overall.
Offense is a bonus.
Not gonna happen overnight unfortunately.
I agree NJ. The defense in almost every game has been stingy until some time in the 3rd quarter, when they finally get worn down. If the offense does anything, the defense figures to get even better. Barring the endless string of injuries of course. Sounds like Ward is now done for the season.
it’s a great, low cost move. If we had taken Watson this year this wouldn’t even be an issue but that’s in the past. As Lurker said, he’s been learning under Brady and Belichick and that’s good enough for me. It’s a little concerning that Belichick would let him go for only a #2 esp after keeping him around for so long AND Brady is a hit away from retirement. But whatever, he’s here and I’m going to be positive about it since it’s obvious a legit QB wasn’t on our roster.
I concur.
NE would have lost him for nothing at the end of the year. As Winder said it may very well be n 8 week rental but at least we’ll have a better idea of what we need to do QB wise.
Sounds like a winner!
A Pats fan’s take on the trade . . .
https://www.patspulpit.com/2017/10/31/16581144/what-i-think-the-jimmy-g-trade-means-garoppolo-brady-belichick-nfl-49ers
Good piece, but I’ll argue till I’m blue in the face against Belichik being the great coach ever, and Joe Cool will always be the greatest QB ever in my mind.
After watching Watson’s spectacular performance on Sunday, you have to wonder about the credibility of some of these NFL scouts. The dude looked phenomenal. Powerful, accurate arm, unbelievable athletic ability, squared away character. He gave one of the best D’s in football fits the entire game. Were it not for a freakish drive by Russell Wilson at the end, he would’ve gotten a win at the toughest venue in the NFL. The Texans stole one with this guy.
Yeah, Watson is gonna make a name for himself. I know that picking a QB in the 1st round is risky and a lot of times they don’t pan out. But in the last two years Goff, Wentz, and Watson all look like keepers and good picks. This year we need to pick the best OL’s on the board just like we did 2010 and if we go for DL’s get them off the wire.
After watching some highlights, you notice some things right away about Garoppolo: he has a strong, accurate arm, he’s very mobile, and he has a very quick release. All those will be welcome things after Hoyer, who’d wilt in the pocket at the first sign of trouble, and Beathard with his rookie tendency to hang onto the football way too long.
Yeah, As Flav said, had we drafted Watson we would be in much better shape QB-wise. That was a hell of a game. He looks like the real deal. Shit, look at Alex Smith. He’s getting MVP talk . . .
The little I’ve seen of Jimmy G he looks good and confident. Big, strong arm. Quick release.
Who saw Dak Prescott as anything but a backup/flyer type? Yeah, he’s on a loaded team, but he looks solid. Wentz has surprised me. I thought he was a little too much hype. I didn’t think he’s be as good as he is. But system does help. Goff is doing spectacularly without the Jeff Fisher albatross around his neck.
At least Hoyer is gone. Damn I did not like him at all and I’m sure Lynch knew he had to get rid of him ASAP.
Query: To celebrate this latest trade will Spit go out with a pillow case and grab some candy on Halloween? Or will he stay at home and turn off his lights?
CB Robinson traded to the JETS.
Yay.
Wow. As inconsistent as he is, I think he’ll get better. Funny thing is the Jets head coach Todd Bowles had no idea of the trade and was told about it by a reporter.
ANd I thought the Niners were terrible at communication.
We the the Jets 5th round pick next year.
I think Robinson was a 4th rounder in 16. Another pick that didn’t work out.
sniff…..
So glad Robinson is gone. Akhello now the man. Robinson was a penalty machine.
They cut CB Will Redmond too. He was the ACL warrior Baalke took in the 3rd round and said would be ready for the season that year.
Not so much.
Two more Baalke picks bite the dust. The purge continues.