Odds on Where Jimmy Garoppolo Will Play Week 1 of 2021 NFL Season – Patriots Listed at +375

• The San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall draft pick in the 2021 draft
• Jimmy Garoppolo is still the starting quarterback but could he be on the move?
• Odds where Jimmy G will play in the 2021 NFL season

After persistent rumors that head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch were looking to replace Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers pulled off a blockbuster trade last week. What is unclear at this point is if they’ll keep their incumbent starter on the roster while they presumably use the third-overall selection on a potential franchise quarterback.

Should the 49ers decide to move on from Jimmy G after four tumultuous seasons, a familiar foe could come calling in the New England Patriots.

Will Garoppolo play in San Fran next season? Do they have another suitable backup in place if they do start their rookie and could they find a trade partner for their starting QB from Super Bowl LIV? In this article we’ll explore the possibilities for next season.

Odds on Where Garoppolo Plays in Week 1 of 2021

Odds as of March 30th.

Garoppolo Contract Doesn’t Inhibit 49ers From Keeping Him

Just two years ago, the San Francisco 49ers were in the Super Bowl, and they dealt with a litany of injuries last season. That talented squad was capable of returning to the big dance had they not been dealt the injury bug. Subsequently, entrusting a potential Super Bowl team with a rookie could be catastrophic. While a young prospect settles into the NFL, it might already be too late in an ultra competitive NFC West.

San Fran might want to keep Jimmy G, despite him missing 23 of 48 games due to injury the last three seasons. While he didn’t light the world on fire last year, he was still respectable enough, completing 67% of his passes. He threw seven TD’s against five interceptions, but did have the lowest yards per game in four seasons with the 49ers (182.7).

49ers now square in the QB mix, but are holding on to Jimmy Garoppolo and have no plans to trade him, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021

Currently they have no plans to trade him, but has been the case in the NFL, things can change on a dime. Should they decide to part ways via a trade to bring back some draft capital lost in the blockbuster deal, the contract is palpable. He’s signed for just two more years with a cap hit under $54 million.

There’s no desperate need to deal him though, with San Fran boasting the twelfth-most cap space, according to Sportrac. Their other options behind him on the depth chart are shaky at best. There’s 2018 first-round reclamation project Josh Rosen along with Josh Johnson, who’s thrown passes in just one season since 2011.

Could Patriots Be Interested in a Reunion?

Don’t rule out Bill Belichick making a play for his former second round draft pick. They’ve already made a flurry of signings this off-season so they’re clearly going all-in. There are reports that the Patriots aren’t interested in bringing him back, but Belichick could be playing his cards close to his chest.

The Pats have about $14 million in cap space available, and while they did bring back Cam Newton, his contract wouldn’t prohibit the team from bringing in Garoppolo. The 2011 first overall pick only has a base salary of $1.5 million for the upcoming season.

"Just recently I was talking to somebody in the league who I really trust, who's got good information, he said, 'Do not take the Jimmy Garoppolo trade off the table."

—@diannaESPN on the Patriots pic.twitter.com/YKdrTUWq7W

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 26, 2021

Garoppolo’s career record is a very impressive 24-8 and he’d also offer the ability to stretch the field which Newton wasn’t able to do very well last year. A reunion between Belichick and co. could be just what the doctor ordered after the Patriots missed the playoffs, and you’re getting good value on it happening.

Pick: New England Patriots (+375)