INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
About a month ago, it was reported that the Cleveland Browns were not interested in trading San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Well, things seem to have changed.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.comthe Browns will consider trading for Garoppolo if Deshaun Watson’s six-game suspension increases significantly.
The NFL decided last week that it would appeal Watson’s suspension. Major League Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that he is pushing for a full-season suspension.
A final decision has yet to be made in Watson’s case, and yet NFL fans are ready to ramp up speculation of Garoppolo with the Browns.
49ers fans are pleased with this report. They would rather the team trade Garoppolo to the Browns than release him outright.
As for the Browns, showing interest in Garoppolo could be a sign that the front office isn’t ready for Jacoby Brissett to be their starting quarterback for a full season.
Garoppolo underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason. 49ers general manager John Lynch said the veteran signal caller has bounced back nicely.
“Jimmy is doing a very good job,” Lynch said. “Kind of building up your resistance in the launch program that was prescribed all along and working very hard and aggressively, but yes, this situation is as we have described it before. We will also be patient and reach a great conclusion for all involved.”
In 2021, Garoppolo completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,810 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Garoppolo would be an upgrade over Brissett, though his $24.2 million base salary might be too expensive to take on.