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The 49ers and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have agreed to terms on a restructured one-year contract that will make him the highest-paid backup in the NFL, according to multiple reports.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Garoppolo, who lost his starting spot to touted second-year QB Trey Lance earlier this offseason, will earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $6.5 million in 2022. Prior to the restructure, Garoppolo, 30, was set to account for $26.95 million in cap space with a non-guaranteed $24.2 million base salary; had the 49ers found a trade partner or released the QB, it would’ve saved the team $25.55 million.
Additionally, the veteran signal-caller’s new contract reportedly includes $500K in roster bonuses as well as playtime bonuses that could boost the overall value by close to an additional $9 million, per Schefter. San Francisco also included no-trade and no-tag clauses in the contract, allowing Jimmy G to decide his next NFL home as a free agent next offseason.
Monday’s stunning news comes amid a peculiar phase in Garoppolo’s career. He has spent much of the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery while dwelling on the trade block. Jimmy G’s four-season reign as QB1 officially ended on July 26 when the club handed the keys to Lance, the third overall pick in 2021.
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Shortly before the club decided to move on to Lance, San Francisco gave the oft-injured Garoppolo permission to seek a trade as he continued his rehab. A lack of potential suitors in the nearly two months since has now seemingly led to team brass deciding they’re comfortable with holding on to Garoppolo through the season.
Less than three days after NFL Network reported a Jimmy G trade partner currently “does not exist,” the nine-year vet now faces even more uncertainty going forward after taking a pay cut to stay in San Fran for one more year. Should Lance stay healthy and prove to be exactly who the 49ers believe him to be, there’s no telling when Garoppolo may see the field again.
In his 15 starts in 2021, Garoppolo recorded 3,810 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and led the 49ers to a 10–7 record and an NFC title game appearance, its second in three seasons. Garoppolo, a 2014 Patriots second-rounder who arrived via trade early in the ’17 season, has a 31–14 record with San Francisco as a starter, and has amassed 11,162 yards, 66 TDs and 38 INTs across five seasons with the club.
