Until the Seahawks actually put either Geno Smith or Drew Lock on the field to face Russell Wilson’s Broncos in Week 1 the media’s quarterback speculation isn’t going to stop.
Sadly, at this late hour there are only two potential QB upgrades that are already in the league. Baker Mayfield is in limbo thanks to the Browns’ poor timing of the increasingly-disastrous Deshaun Watson trade. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo is stuck on the trade block due to a shoulder injury.
Cleveland may eventually be forced to release Mayfield because no team seems willing to take on even a diminished portion of his fully-guaranteed salary – over $18 million. If San Francisco does the same with Garoppolo then Louis Riddick thinks Seattle should jump at the chance to sign him. Here’s what he said on ESPN Friday.
“The 49ers are not gonna trade Jimmy Garoppolo to the Seattle Seahawks in the division, but when they cut him – and it sounds like they will cut him eventually – I would be ALL over that. All over it if I’m the Seattle Seahawks… That offense very similar in terms of constructs, in terms of philosophy that Kyle Shanahan runs out in San Francisco. That’s an offense that’s tailor-made for Jimmy G’s style.”
It may be a sign of just how sad things have gotten around these parts since the Wilson trade, but Riddick’s not wrong.
Any Seahawks fan could tell you that Garoppolo can be erratic in the pocket and occasionally will have a total brainfart collapse that leads to a turnover. However, no quarterback is perfect and Garoppolo is still better than about half of the other starters around the league. He (at times) displays superb touch and accuracy and throws with anticipation better than most. Garoppolo would also fit like a glove into Shane Waldron’s Sean McVay/Shanahan-inspired scheme.
In our recent ranking of the 32 projected starters for Week 1, the combo of Smith and Lock came in at No. 25, while Garoppolo placed at No. 18. That would be a significant step up – if truly competing in 2022 is something that Pete Carroll is interested in doing.
That said, Garoppolo’s contract is an absolute non-starter, with a cap hit that’s just under $27 milion this year. If the Niners release him and the Seahawks can get him for around 10% of that price they should go for it.
