Per ESPN’s Adam Shefter, veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo agreed to restructure his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
The contract will be a one-year deal that contains no-trade and no-tag clauses. As a result, the 30-year-old ensures that he will remain with the 49ers for the 2022 season, backing up second-year quarterback Trey Lance.
Lance, whom San Francisco drafted third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, was handed the starting reigns in July.
In an eye-opening rookie season, Lance recorded at least 18 attempts in three games, scoring four touchdowns in those contests. Though he would only go 1-2 in those contests, Lance’s dual-threat ability gives San Francisco a dimension to their offense that they simply didn’t have with Jimmy G.
That said, Garoppolo is still a high-quality quarterback who took the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV and an NFC Championship this past season. His ability to make tough throws may not erase the front office’s doubts about his ability to lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl win. Nonetheless, he’s a proven commodity that would be a great insurance policy in the event that Lance suffers an injury or simply fails to live up to expectations. Now preparing for his sixth season with San Francisco, his familiarity with the coaching staff and his teammates is another benefit of keeping him for at least one more season.
Of course, it was never a guarantee that Jimmy G would remain with the 49ers following their disappointing playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Throughout the offseason, San Francisco scoured the market looking to trade Garoppolo. However, after he underwent shoulder surgery, his trade market dwindled.
In fact, just prior to their preseason finale, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he was still unsure how he would resolve the signal-callers situation.
“I think any scenario is possible,” Shanahan said.
While Garoppolo will have to take a pay cut, this may be the best option for both sides.
San Francisco will have the safety net that they may not have had prior to Jimmy G restructuring his contract. Garoppolo will get to choose the team that he plays for next season.