3 surprise cuts the 49ers could make this offseason

1. QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Wait, “how can Garoppolo be a surprise cut?” If the 49ers do want to move on, and clear $23.6 million in cap space, they would surely prefer to trade him for something (even a mid-round pick). That’s where it could get hairy. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has laid it out.

“Garoppolo has a total compensation package of $25.5 million for 2021 and $25.6 million for 2022. If he were a free agent, would anyone offer him $50.1 million over two years? It’s doubtful.”

“It’s doubtful because he hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. He missed 23 games over the last three seasons. Dating back to 2016, when he had a four-game audition during Tom Brady’s #Deflategate suspension, Garoppolo got injured in the second game.”

“So here’s my prediction: the 49ers won’t eventually roll the dice with Garoppolo again, not at his current contract. And since they won’t be able to trade the contract, they’ll eventually cut Garoppolo — taking a cap charge of only $2.8 million.”

Moving on one way or another from Garoppolo creates the same financial outcome for the 49ers–$23.6 million in cap space, $2.8 million in dead money. So if they do decide he’s not their guy anymore, as trade possibilities, free agency and even the draft reveal options, cutting him wouldn’t be tough. But it would be a surprising outcome.