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The fact that the 49ers made an attempt to switch to quarterback Matthew Stafford confirms what many have suspected for months. With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo entering the final years of his contract, with a relatively minimal capitalization rate associated with negotiating or cutting him, all options are at stake as the 49ers determines his quarterback’s identity for 2021.
The 49ers have only $ 2.8 million in unallocated subscription bonus charges stemming from the contract given to Garoppolo three years ago. He has a base salary of $ 24.1 million for the next season, none of which is guaranteed – and none of which is guaranteed at any time before the start of the regular season.
Thus, 49ers can treat Garoppolo like any other potentially available defender option that may be available to them. Whether chasing a free agent who may become available or negotiating for an option established in the position, 49ers can do whatever they want.
Last year, they considered adding defender Tom Brady. They decided to stay with Garoppolo. The fact that Brady skipped the Buccaneers in his first year with the team to the Super Bowl certainly made the 49ers wonder if they made the right decision.
Yes, the wave of injuries suffered by the 49ers this year would have made it very difficult for the 49ers to thrive, even with Brady. Still, Garoppolo once again failed to show the kind of durability that characterizes true franchise defenders like Brady, who, if it weren’t for a fluke in the first week of the 2008 season, would be in the middle of a two-decade streak. presentation and performance, each week.
Garoppolo has lost 23 games in three full seasons with the 49ers. Although he performs well when he is able to play, the inability to play becomes an important factor in the 49ers’ ability to justify continuing the race with Garoppolo.
So, what will they do? An exchange offer for Deshaun Watson remains possible, although the price is certainly high. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, the player 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan assumed the team would sign as a free agent in 2018, but for Garoppolo’s exchange, he could be available in a exchange. It is not news that Shanahan would be interested in the player he and his father cast nine years ago. The news will come if / when the Vikings decide to leave Cousins - and if / when the 49ers decide to absorb a contract that pays $ 56 million in full guarantee over the next two years.
Vikings would first have to be willing to negotiate cousins. Before Vikings could do that, they would need to be willing to absorb $ 20 million in dead money for 2021. They would also need to be confident that they would have another viable option as a defender.
If it weren’t for Cousins, who would be the Vikings’ quarterback? Cam Newton? Andy Dalton? Mitchell Trubisky? Ryan Fitzpatrick? Jacoby Brissett? Jameis Winston? Alex Smith?
Minnesota could try to negotiate with Deshaun Watson, if he was willing to play there. But that would require several choices from the first round draft (probably three) and perhaps more.
Although Cousins played well for three seasons in Minnesota, the Vikings made only one appearance in the playoffs during their time with the team. However, in the absence of someone in whom they have enough faith for 2021, they would potentially be stepping back, especially since they currently do not have an offensive coordinator.
The Vikings bet everything when they hired Cousins. There is no similar all-in move they can make this year, unless they do ultra-all-in for Watson. Would an exchange for someone like Sam Darnold make a difference in a year that is likely to involve coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman heading for the hot seat? Vikings have a very low choice to get one of the first rookies, and relying fully on a first-year player would carry a significant risk.
From the point of view of continuity, especially if Klint Kubiak becomes the next offensive coordinator, it makes sense to keep the Cousins. Except for a highly improbable decision by Tom Brady to ask for an exchange or release by the Buccaneers and a willingness by Brady to continue his career in his mother’s home state, there is obviously no viable option to help Vikings do enough in 2021 to maintain the power structure in place for 2022.
Even an exchange with the 49ers that would bring Jimmy Garoppolo to Minnesota would not be enough to guarantee that the Vikings would be competitive. While there is no reason to think that Vikings will suddenly become dominant if Cousins gets a fourth season, putting all the eggs in a different basket may be the quickest way to break all the eggs.
So, while many Vikings fans may be ready to move on, the coaching staff and the board need to keep Cousins, if they are to avoid the possibility of Vikings hitting the reset button after the next season. Only Cousins minimizes this risk.
In 2022, things could be very different. But 2022 can also be 2032, when it comes to Vikings. Despite the rigid ceiling that appears to lie on Minnesota’s chances of fighting at a high level in 2021, people who need to get as close to that ceiling as possible next season will likely decide that Cousins gives them the best chance to do so. .
So, where does that leave the 49ers? That remains to be seen, as the coaching carousel begins to spin, thanks to the kickoff that the Saturday night news from a Lions-Rams quarterback exchange provided.
Regardless of where things end up, it is obvious that 49ers have already started exploring all the options available.