3 things Seahawks fans should know about potential Jimmy G trade

The Seahawks’ search for their next quarterback continues with two names under contract — Drew Lock and Geno Smith — and another connected to the fray only by rumor in Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield. With still little movement on that front, another potential trade acquisition has found his name thrown into the search: San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo.

Huard: Should Seahawks go after 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo?

Of course, this is all hypothetical. For now, Seattle appears happy with the competition between Smith and Lock. But what would a trade for Garoppolo look like?

Acquiring Jimmy G wouldn’t be prohibitively costly

A former starter who’s out of job and sure to be traded is still on his current team, which means the bidding for his services appears to be drying up.

It’s a statement that could just as easily apply to Mayfield as it does for Garoppolo. Both quarterbacks have headed up playoff teams, both have been seen as potential saviors of their respective franchises, and both have shown flashes of promise and at times looked the part but struggled to stay healthy or produce consistently. And now, both now are playing backup roles on a first-team contract. That, and a quarterback trade market that’s mostly settled, has kept lame duck situations alive in both San Francisco and Cleveland. Aaron Rodgers stayed in Green Bay, after all. Washington acquired Carson Wentz. Denver traded for Russell Wilson. And Atlanta and New Orleans found their stop-gap answers in Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, respectively.

Count this as somewhat good news, since it’s unlikely Garoppolo could command a first- or second-round pick — barring injury, of course. Even then, Seattle’s got four to work with in 2023 (two firsts and two seconds). Right now there appear to be few bidders (Carolina has been linked to both Garoppolo and Mayfield but appears set on Sam Darnold), though an injury to a starter before the late-October trade deadline could drive that asking price up. But for now, the draft capital required to acquire Garoppolo wouldn’t be prohibitive for Seattle.

Garoppolo might be the best available option on the market

Mayfield has led the Browns to the playoffs, but Garoppolo has been the starter of a 49ers team that made it to the Super Bowl and came one game short of another visit.

Bump: If Seahawks are just a QB away, it’s Jimmy G over Mayfield

It certainly makes his tenure in San Francisco a fascinating one; you could hardly say Garoppolo was the reason either version of those 49ers teams found success. There was a dominant defense in 2019 and a flexible, balanced offense featuring stellar play from Deebo Samuel that spearheaded their 2021 campaign. And yet should he be on another squad in 2022, he’ll end his 49ers career with a 31-14 record and 4-2 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl trip and two NFC Championship appearances.

Jimmy G’s cap hit would be higher than Mayfield… and Russell Wilson

The Seahawks’ reported interest in Mayfield may be curbed by his nearly $19 million cap hit in 2022. But if that figure is keeping them shy on a Mayfield trade, then so too might Garoppolo’s salary.

Garoppolo’s $25.5 million cap hit isn’t the highest in the league among all active contracts — or even in the top 10 — but it’s just outside of that. For added context, that cap hit is $7 million less than Seattle would have paid Wilson, but is more than the $24 million the Broncos are absorbing for Wilson in 2022. So Seattle would technically be paying more for Garoppolo than the Broncos will for Wilson’s services.

Does it really matter? It’s a somewhat arbitrary figure, one only true because of dead money lingering from the trade on Seattle’s books, but it certainly carries a bit of a sting for Seahawks fans.

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