This offseason is going to be an important one for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. For the first time in his career, he is going to be a free agent and have the ability to select which team he wants to play for.
Garoppolo has been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2017 when they acquired him in a trade with the New England Patriots. He found plenty of success in the Bay Area, leading the team to two NFC Championship Game appearances and one Super Bowl. Alas, all good things must come to an end eventually and for Jimmy Garoppolo, his time with the 49ers has ended.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that there are no plans to bring Jimmy Garoppolo back this offseason. That means he will be suiting up for a new franchise in 2023 and it would be shocking if he wasn’t starting somewhere next season.
Jimmy Garoppolo is 40-17 in his career, a proven winner. Whoever lands him will be receiving a nice upgrade at the quarterback position. What could be his next destination? Here are three of the best landing spots for him in free agency.
If the Houston Texans don’t want to have a rookie under center in 2023, they could be an intriguing landing spot for Jimmy Garoppolo. He would provide the franchise with a reliable veteran for the young quarterback to learn behind while bringing some respectability to the team.
There will be connections to the Texans as they are hiring 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to take over as head coach. That is someone that Jimmy Garoppolo knows well and the transition would be made a little easier for both of them if it were to be made together.
There would be a chance for his market value to improve with the Texans, especially if they are able to upgrade the roster this offseason. If they guarantee that he will be the starter for at least 2023, a one-year stop in Houston isn’t the worst plan.
The New York Jets are going to look to make a big addition at quarterback this offseason. It is really the only position that held them back in 2022 as they have a championship-caliber defense and the pieces offensively to be an explosive unit. All they need is the quarterback to bring it all together and Jimmy Garoppolo could be that guy.
Connections are also present in New York, where Robert Saleh is the head coach. He was the defensive coordinator before Ryans took over, giving Jimmy Garoppolo some familiarity with this franchise as well.
The Jets have reportedly set their sights on Aaron Rodgers, but Jimmy Garoppolo would be a nice consolation prize should no trade with the Green Bay Packers materialize.
Another franchise with connections to Jimmy Garoppolo is the Las Vegas Raiders. Their head coach, Josh McDaniels, was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots during his time with the franchise.
As we saw in 2022, McDaniels’ system isn’t an easy one to run. Derek Carr struggled to figure it out and is not going to be with the team in 2023. If Jimmy Garoppolo has his pick of the litter, this is where he should want to be.
The familiarity with McDaniels is a big selling point and something the franchise will likely look into. Their offense could also be an excellent one. Davante Adams is a star wide receiver with Hunter Renfrow behind him. Darren Waller, when healthy, is a premier tight end. If the team can re-sign running back Josh Jacobs, the Raiders have the pieces in place to have one of the best offenses in the NFL.
