Should the price tag for Jimmy Garoppolo scare off the Broncos?

The compensation the 49ers are looking for in a trade for the veteran quarterback looks pretty reasonable in the current QB market

BY JAMES MERILATT

Apr 1, 2021, 6:00 AM Updated: 7:32 am

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If George Paton is serious about bringing in competition for Drew Lock, one option became clear cut on Wednesday. According to Albert Breer of MMQB, the 49ers have established an asking price for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Would you give up a first-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo? 🤔 https://t.co/8CkXMkl6Kf pic.twitter.com/9AT6Mbjehj

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 1, 2021

That may sound like a steep price for a quarterback that San Francisco is ready to move on from, but that not necessarily the case. Yes, the Niners made a blockbuster trade to get the third-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which they’ll almost assuredly use on a QB, but that doesn’t mean Jimmy G can’t play.

He’s 24-8 as a starter, including 22-8 in San Francisco. And he helped his team reached the Super Bowl at the end of the 2019 season.

That’s not a bad resume. It’s certainly on par with other QBs who’ve been traded this offseason.

Matthew Stafford was 74-90-1 during his 12 seasons in Detroit. The Lions got Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-rounder from the Rams for him.

Carson Wentz was 35-32-1 during his five seasons in Philadelphia. The Eagles a third-round pick and a conditional second-rounder from the Colts for him.

Deshaun Watson is 28-25 during his four seasons in Houston. The Texans reportedly wanted four first-round picks for him before legal issues derailed any trade plans.

So a first-round pick, especially if it’s in 2022 or beyond, doesn’t seem extreme for Garoppolo. It’s commiserate with the market.

Will Paton explore this option? It depends on how serious he is about exploring other QB options.