2023 NFL Free Agency: Former 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo to join Raiders
The Seattle Seahawks are losing a familiar foe. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has agreed to a three-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. For the first time since being traded to San Francisco from New England in 2017, Garoppolo has a new NFL home.
It’s funny to think if the Raiders hadn’t left the Bay Area to go to Las Vegas, Garoppolo might not have even had to move homes.
Comp update: Raiders are giving former 49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo a three-year, $67.5 million deal, including $34 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023
After cutting Derek Carr earlier this offseason, it was clear Las Vegas was going to try to make some kind of move at quarterback. Now Garoppolo is reunited with head coach Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator for three years with the Patriots.
Garoppolo’s NFL story is a bit of a conundrum. When healthy – which is a major concern for him – he puts up decent numbers on paper. But when you actually watched him play it’s painfully evident he was the weakest link in the 49ers’ chain. Yet, despite obvious limitations, San Francisco was far more successful with him under center than without.
What Garoppolo lacks in ability, he seems to make up for with his intangibles. His teammates in San Francisco loved him, and despite the 49ers’ best efforts to get rid of him, he somehow always found himself back as the starter when healthy.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, if San Francisco finds themselves in quarterback trouble once more, Garoppolo won’t be around to help bail them out.
