6:20pm: The 49ers confirmed in a tweet this evening that Lance “has suffered a broken right ankle and will require season-ending surgery,” according to Shanahan.
5:51pm: It seems the 49ers will have to face the worst-case scenario of today’s injury as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Lance’s ankle injury “is expected to require surgery that likely will end his season.”
San Francisco is fortunate, in the short term, that they held on to Garoppolo who will likely step in to quarterback the 49ers for the remainder of the season. There were whispers around the league that a trade could still be in the books as teams like the Cowboys saw significant blows to the quarterback position.
In the long-term, San Francisco has to have some concerns about the development of its young investment at quarterback. It’s certainly not Lance’s fault, but, if the rumor of his season ending are true, Lance will have gone three years in the NFL without playing any significant, consistent time at quarterback. In a sport that requires constant practice and refinement of skill, this is a disastrous start to what should be a promising career for Lance.
3:36pm: Today marked a significant point in Trey Lance‘s young NFL career. Instead of a bounce-back performance, however, it has resulted in the 49ers quarterback being carted off the field with a leg injury, as the team confirmed.
Lance will be out for the remainder of the game, per a club announcement. He had an air cast on his right leg before being taken of the field to the locker room. As a result of the injury, Jimmy Garoppolo has taken over behind center for San Francisco.
Lance spent the entire offseason knowing he would take over as the 49ers’ franchise signal-caller. The team traded up to select him third overall in the 2021 draft, so it came as little surprise that they turned their attention to the 22-year-old. Expectations were understandably high, but his limited action in college and as a rookie backing up Garoppolo led to plenty of question marks entering the campaign.
The North Dakota State product did little to quell doubts about his ability to operate as a high-end starter last week. In an upset loss to the Bears, Lance completed just 13-of-28 passes for 164 yards and an interception, adding 54 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Conditions played a major part in each teams’ offensive struggles, of course, but much was thought to be riding on Lance’s performance today against the Seahawks.
It was reported earlier this week that head coach Kyle Shanahan could turn to Garoppolo as early as the team’s next game against the Broncos in the event Lance struggled. Now, he has done so out of sheer necessity. Garoppolo was the source of trade speculation all summer long, but stayed in the Bay Area via a restructured contract. Depending on the length of Lance’s absence, the veteran could once again carry the load for an extended period.
In the immediate future, Garoppolo faces the task of guiding a 49ers offense which, for the second straight contest, does not include All-Pro tight end George Kittle against the Seahawks. Seattle pulled off an upset win over Denver last week, but San Francisco currently leads 13-0. Big-picture implications loom large for the team at the QB position, however.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance broke his right ankle Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks and will have season-ending surgery Monday, coach Kyle Shanahan said after the team’s 27-7 win.
Lance was hurt with 2:20 to go in the first quarter and replaced by Jimmy Garoppolo.
With 2:33 to go in the opening quarter, the Niners ran a zone-read play in which Lance had the option to hand off the ball to receiver Ray-Ray McCloud or keep it. He opted to keep it and ran up the middle, where Cody Barton met him in the hole. Lance fell awkwardly as his right leg appeared to fold under him.
Lance stayed on the field for a few moments in obvious pain. His right leg was put in an air cast, and his teammates quickly gathered around him to offer words of encouragement before he left the field on a cart and headed to the locker room. He was ruled out shortly afterward.
Garoppolo, the veteran quarterback whom Lance replaced in the offseason, entered the game and completed his first attempt for 4 yards before the Niners settled for a field goal. Lance was 2-of-3 for 30 yards and had three carries for 13 yards before he departed.
After leading the Niners in rushing attempts (13) and yards (54) in a Week 1 loss to the Bears, Lance spoke at length on Wednesday about the differences between college and the NFL and the need to protect himself when running.
“I’m not bigger, faster and stronger than pretty much everyone else,” Lance said. “Guys catch up a lot quicker, space is filled, guys close a lot faster, and I have to learn to protect myself, just being in a different situation knowing how important it is for me to stay healthy.”
After offseason surgery on his right shoulder in early March, Garoppolo agreed to a reworked contract with the Niners on Aug. 29, reducing his base salary from $24 million to $6.5 million (fully guaranteed) with incentives built in for playing time and team success that could take it up to $16 million.
Garoppolo looked comfortable in his first game action since his surgery, going 13-for-21 for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also had four carries for 5 yards and a TD.
The sagas surrounding Jimmy Garoppolo and Deshaun Watson have run their courses simultaneously during the 2022 offseason. Events in the near future could cause them to be intertwined to a greater extent than they already have been.
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports that the Browns “will consider acquiring” Garoppolo in the event that Watson’s suspension “significantly increases.” The latter was handed a six-game ban for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. That fell roughly in line with what the Browns had been anticipating, leading many to believe that they would turn to backup Jacoby Brissett for the beginning of the season.
As expected, however, the league has appealed the suspension. Just as it did during Watson’s disciplinary hearing, the NFL will once again push for a year-long ban while appealing to designee Peter Harvey. That process is expected to result in a significant increase in the number of games Watson will be made unavailable for. With the Browns built for immediate playoff contention, that would add to their level of urgency in acquiring a more proven signal-caller.
The possibility of Cleveland trading for Garoppolo isn’t new, of course. It was reported last month, however, that the Browns were not considering a move to land the veteran 49er. Garoppolo, 30, has one year remaining on his current contract with a non-guaranteed salary of just over $24MM. That figure has led to recent speculation that San Francisco will hold on to him as long as possible to see if any significant trade market materializes in the coming weeks.
On that point, NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco confirms that it is “unlikely at this point” that any team would trade for Garoppolo without him negotiating a new contract lowering his 2022 cap hit. The one potential exception to that, though, remains Cleveland; with nearly $49MM in cap space, the team could comfortably absorb Garoppolo’s contract and use him as a placeholder in Watson’s absence.
With the league looking to keep Watson sidelined during the preseason, an announcement on the appeal could be coming very soon. Once it does, attention will once again turn to the Browns’ QB plans, and where Garoppolo could fit into them.
Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers have reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year, $71.55 million contract extension that could become worth up to $73.5 million. That places Samuel’s average annual salary for the new years added between $23.85 million and $24.5 million.
Samuel is set to earn a base salary of $3.87 million in 2022, the final year of his rookie deal. Where does Samuel now rank among 49ers players in average salary when we look at just his extension money? He takes the No. 2 spot, becoming the top spot once the 49ers remove quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the roster.
Player
Avg. Salary
Jimmy Garoppolo
$27,500,000
Deebo Samuel
$23,850,000
Trent Williams
$23,010,000
Fred Warner
$19,045,000
Arik Armstead
$17,000,000
George Kittle
$15,000,000
Charvarius Ward
$13,500,000
Jimmie Ward
$9,500,000
Trey Lance
$8,526,319
Nick Bosa
$8,387,966
Samuel also ranks No. 2 when it comes to guaranteed money. $58.1 million of his new deal is reportedly guaranteed. Only one player in 49ers history—Garoppolo on his five-year deal signed in 2018—has received more guaranteed money.
Player
Guaranteed
Jimmy Garoppolo
$74,100,000
Deebo Samuel
$58,100,000
Trent Williams
$55,100,000
Fred Warner
$40,500,000
Arik Armstead
$40,000,000
George Kittle
$40,000,000
Trey Lance
$34,105,275
Nick Bosa
$33,551,865
Charvarius Ward
$26,620,000
Mike McGlinchey
$18,341,721
Numbers courtesy of Spotrac.
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What does Seahawks’ WR D.K. Metcalf’s extension mean for 49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel’s potential extension?
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jul 29
Seattle Seahawks star receiver receiver D.K. Metcalf finally received his long-term contract extension, earning a three-year, $72 million deal with $58.2 million guaranteed, as well as a $30 million signing bonus, which was the largest ever for a wide receiver in NFL history.
Now comes San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s contract extension, as the two sides have been continuously in talks over the past few weeks according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
In a slew of major deals for wide receivers this offseason, there are three specific cases that could be the defining factor in Samuel’s contract negotiations: Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown, Washington Commanders wideout Terry McLaurin, and now Seattle Seahawks wideout D.K.
Deebo Samuel’s trainer on 49ers WR’s contract status: ‘He about to get paid’
San Francisco 49ers fans await Deebo Samuel contract news. The wide receiver generated a lot of offseason chatter by expressing his displeasure regarding his contract status, leading to a trade request. The 49ers, intent on keeping their most dynamic offensive weapon, didn’t entertain offers.
Samuel is back in the Bay Area, which could be viewed as a positive when it comes to the 49ers reconciling their relationship with the star player and locking him into a long-term deal. Players report to Santa Clara for training camp in a week, and it would be ideal to complete a deal before then.
TheSFNiners shared the following Instagram video of Samuel working with his trainer, who says the wide receiver is “about to get paid.” 49ers fans hope so. That would end
Pelissero: 49ers, Deebo Samuel continue to talk about contract extension
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jul 25
Earlier this morning, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared the latest news on Deebo Samuel and his contract extension, stating that while there isn’t a finalized deal, both the 49ers and Samuel’s camp continue to talk about a long-term deal ahead of Tuesday, when the 49ers’ players are due to report to training camp.
“There’s no deal done yet, but the 49ers continue to talk to Deebo Samuel’s agent Tory Dandy about a long-term contract extension that would keep him in San Francisco. The fact that they’re even talking is really significant when you go back to where this began in April [with] Deebo Samuel requesting a trade. [He] didn’t show up to OTAs throughout the offseason, [but] did show up to minicamp.”
Pelissero noted that Deebo Samuel likely will not hold out
49ers signing WR Deebo Samuel to a 3-year contract extension worth up to $73.5 million
The drama is finally over. The San Francisco 49ers are signing wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a three-year, $71.55 million contract extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal reportedly includes $58.1 million in guaranteed money and will keep him with the team through the 2025 season. Samuel will earn at least $23.85 million annually, ranking eighth among wide receivers.
49ers are giving Deebo Samuel a three-year,$71.55 million extension, including $58.1 million guaranteed, per sources.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Jerry Rice seems to be all aboard the Trey Lance train as the 2022 San Francisco 49ers season approaches.
The legendary former 49ers receiver spoke briefly about Lance with KSBW-TV in Monterey this week while he was in the area promoting his energy drink, G.O.A.T. Fuel. Rice was asked about Lance during his appearance and said he likes his dual threat potential over what Jimmy Garoppolo brings to the table and that he thinks Lance is ready to take over the team’s starting quarterback spot this season.
“Trey Lance, I think he’s ready to go,” Rice said. “And I think he’s incredible because he has that one aspect that Jimmy doesn’t have, and that’s the threat of running with the ball and stuff like that. So his mobility, his strong arm, and this guy, he’s before his time.”
It’s still hard to say exactly what the 49ers will get from Lance this season, but Rice seems to think the 2021 first-round pick has what he needs to be a success.
“He’s a young kid, but he’s very experienced and I think he’s ready to go,” Rice said.
Click here to watch the full video.
Lance and the 49ers have less than four weeks remaining before they begin training camp in Santa Clara, with rookies and veterans set to report on July 26. All eyes will be on Lance to see if he’s indeed ready to take permanent ownership of the starting role after waiting his turn behind Garoppolo last season.
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Former NFL player compares 49ers’ Trey Lance to Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jun 19
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance has started to attract serious attention from the media, as many analysts are coming on board with the 22-year-old’s potential as he enters his second NFL season.
During a recent appearance on NFL Total Access, former Green Bay Packers receiver James Jones continued the trend, going as far as comparing Lance to his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
“I believe we’re looking at a bonafide superstar [in Lance], like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers,” Jones said. “We had a small sample size of Aaron Rodgers, but all you heard out of the locker room and the people around Aaron was, ‘Just wait. You
Bruschi: 49ers’ Trey Lance has ‘most to prove’ among second-year QBs
The quarterbacks from the 2021 draft class will be linked together and compared for a long time. Most received a significant amount of playing time during their rookie seasons. The one who did not was San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. He started just two games and spent most of his freshman NFL season learning behind veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
The upcoming season will be different, though. Lance is slated to become the 49ers’ full-time starter, with Garoppolo likely to be shipped out of Santa Clara. One ESPN analyst believes Lance has the most to prove among the 2021 first-round quarterback class that also includes Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones.
“He is the one that has the most to prove because you almost have to prove your
Five Reasons to Trust Trey Lance as 49ers’ Quarterback
With the debate raging in the media and fandom about whether Trey Lance will start this year, an important fact has been lost by some. The team says Lance will start.
That begs several questions.
What kind of quarterback is Trey Lance? What can fans expect from this fledgling play-caller? Can Lance buck the “Shanahan Curse” and win without changing his first name to “Jimmy?”
These are fair questions (Well, maybe the last one is a bit facetious.). With all this in mind, here are five reasons to trust Trey Lance as the 49ers’ starting quarterback this season:
He has displayed incredible athletic potential.
Trey Lance’s college tape litters the internet. It isn’t unusual to discover hours of footage covering all the plays
Sam Acho picks 49ers’ Trey Lance as 2nd-year QB to make biggest jump in 2022
Last week, ESPN analyst Rob Ninkovich looked at the 2021 rookie quarterback class and stated he expects Trey Lance to make the “biggest jump” in Year 2. Another ESPN analyst, Sam Acho, agrees with that prediction.
Why is Lance the best second-year quarterback, in Acho’s opinion? It’s because of the weapons around him. The 22-year-old quarterback will have wide receiver Deebo Samuel (assuming the offseason rift can be mended) and tight end George Kittle at his disposal.
“Yes, there was a reason Zach Wilson was the second pick overall last year,” Acho said. “There’s a reason Trey Lance was third, right? Because he’s that good as well.”
On Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers made their assistant coaches available to reporters, as they do every offseason. Below are some noteworthy tidbits from the interactions.
No contact with Garoppolo
On Tuesday, tight end George Kittle said he hasn’t spoken with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo since the team cleaned out their lockers after the season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers still intend to trade Garoppolo, but also said nothing is guaranteed.
On Wednesday, San Francisco’s new quarterbacks coach, Brian Griese, said he has worked closely with all of the team’s quarterbacks this offseason, except for Garoppolo. In fact, the assistant coach hasn’t even spoken with Garoppolo.
New #49ers Qb coach Brian Griese is working closely with Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy. He has not had any communication with Jimmy Garoppolo, he said.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 25, 2022
#49ers assistants are meeting media, and QB Brian Griese has had lot of cool stuff to say about transition to coaching; he hasn’t spoken with Jimmy Garoppolo yet
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 25, 2022
Yes, Garoppolo is rehabbing from his March 8 shoulder surgery. Still, the position coach not working at all with the quarterback is a good indicator that the team is focused on moving forward without him.
Chris Foerster confident in Aaron Banks
Last year’s second-round pick, Aaron Banks, played just five offensive snaps during his rookie campaign in 2021. However, the 49ers seem confident that the offensive lineman can make more of an impact during his second NFL season.
49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster believes Banks can earn the starting left guard spot following the departure of Laken Tomlinson to the New York Jets.
49ers O-line coach Chris Foerster is bullish on Aaron Banks grabbing the starting LG spot. Told me that Banks’ natural side is the left. SF was actually very pleased with how he ended his rookie season. They have Laken Tomlinson to replace
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 25, 2022
Kris Kocurek praised Armstead’s adaptability in 2021
Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek shared that the 49ers value versatility along the defensive front. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. However, the assistant gave a lot of credit to Arik Armstead’s adaptability for the unit’s success in 2021, especially after injuries impacted the team.
“I didn’t mandate anything,” Kocurek shared. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m just bouncing this off of you. What do you think about it?’ … He was all for [moving inside]. Arik, the main thing that he showed me is he’s an unselfish player. He’s a team-first guy. He’s been a captain the last two years. The guys look up to him.
“And most people can’t make that transition midseason. If you’re going to make that type of transition, it usually needs to be in the offseason, [using] the OTAs to get kind of acquainted in there, and then sharpen it out in [training] camp, and then hit the ground running Week 1.
“He gets thrown in there Week 7, Week 8. It’s not the easiest thing to do. Arik excelled in there as the season went on. … And then in the playoffs, I thought he played his best ball, was a difference-making type player in there, run and pass.”
Inside insight from 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek today on DE/DT versatility that’s a hallmark of his unit. Kocurek gave major credit to Arik Armstead for the in-season adaptability he showed.
Enlightening stuff, more coming: https://t.co/OxlLeJ6OEb
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 25, 2022
Raiders working out Colin Kaepernick
This one isn’t from Wednesday’s media availability, but it is still noteworthy. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who last played in the league during the 2016 season, has a workout scheduled with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Colin Kaepernick, who last played football in 2016, the same year he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, is scheduled to work out this week for the Las Vegas Raiders, league sources told ESPN.
More on NFL Live now. pic.twitter.com/zAuWybhILx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 25, 2022
Kaepernick has been out of the league since the start of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s regime when the 49ers opted not to bring back the quarterback.
Kaepernick’s NFL career was halted after the quarterback started kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, which sparked many others to follow in his footsteps the following season. Director Spike Lee is working on a multipart documentary for ESPN that will focus on the polarizing quarterback.
In 2021, Netflix released the drama series “Colin in Black & White,” narrated by Kaepernick.
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Brian Griese on 49ers’ Trey Lance: ‘He is an outstanding young man in so many ways’
San Francisco 49ers assistant coaches spoke with reporters on Wednesday. That included new quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, who is coming off a broadcast career with ESPN. The task ahead of him: Help mold second-year quarterback Trey Lance and prepare him to guide the 49ers to success.
Griese expressed his excitement about returning to coaching. He was asked about last year’s No. 3 overall pick and what he has seen from the 22-year-old quarterback.
“With respect to Trey, in particular, meeting him and getting to know him over the last couple of months, he is an outstanding young man in so many ways,” Griese said. “I’m excited to continue to get to know him both on and off the field. I’m excited that he comes to work every day, and he’s humble, and he wants to get
49ers Notebook: Frustrated Javon Kinlaw lashes out at reporter
By Rohan Chakravarthi
9 hrs
After an eventful day of organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, which marked the first time that the media was allowed at practice during Phase 3 of the offseason schedule, the night ended with some unexpected news regarding a certain San Francisco 49ers player.
Here is the latest 49ers news:
Frustrated 49ers DT Javon Kinlaw lashes out at reporter
After an encounter that occurred during the open portion of OTAs between Javon Kinlaw, the third-year defensive tackle for the 49ers, and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, in which Kinlaw reportedly knocked Cohn’s hat off, the 24-year old player joined Cohn’s YouTube livestream late Tuesday night and provided a profanity-filled response to Cohn’s previous criticism of
49ers Notebook: Brock Purdy’s draft surprise, Tariq Castro-Fields on his NFL readiness, and more
Rookie minicamp gets underway Friday for 49ers drafted players and undrafted free agents, but before those players take the field, they were hit with a number of questions from reporters during pre-camp media sessions on Thursday.
Among the players to speak with reporters on Thursday were wide receiver and third-round pick Danny Gray (SMU), offensive lineman and fourth-round pick Spencer Burford (UT-San Antonio), cornerback and sixth-round pick Tariq Castro-Fields (Penn State), quarterback and seventh-round pick Brock Purdy (Iowa State), and undrafted offensive linemen Jason Poe (Mercer) and Dohnovan West (Arizona State). 49ers WebZone already discussed what Gray said
49ers Notebook: Jimmie Ward the villain, Danny Gray’s speed, Charvarius Ward impressions, Alex Mack’s future
Several San Francisco 49ers players spoke with reporters following Tuesday’s practice, the first of organized team activities (OTAs) that was open to the media. Below are some noteworthy updates from those players that weren’t already covered here.
Danny Gray = Speed
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was asked to share his first impressions of rookie Danny Gray, the receiver selected in the third round of the draft.
“He can fly,” Aiyuk said. “But also, he came in, he’s ready to learn. He’s ready to work. I like him.”
Aiyuk has done his homework on Charvarius Ward
Aiyuk admitted to doing some homework on the 49ers’ biggest free-agent signing, Charvarius Ward, knowing that he would have to face the cornerback in
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday. The first on-field session wasn’t open to the media, though. Reporters will get their first look at the players on Tuesday.
The 49ers did offer a glimpse of Monday’s action, posting a video of players going through practice.
The video provides a quick look at Trey Lance, last year’s No. 3 overall pick, and many others. Most expect the second-year quarterback to be the 49ers’ starter in 2022. There has been no shortage of national media questioning his readiness to lead the offense after serving as Jimmy Garoppolo’s backup last season and starting just two games as a rookie.
OTAs will offer Lance the first opportunity for the 22-year-old quarterback to quiet his skeptics.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and various players are scheduled to speak to reporters after Tuesday’s practice.
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49ers’ Trey Lance among QBs to join George Kittle, others at TEU in June
George Kittle, Greg Olsen, and Travis Kelce will once again hold Tight End University (TEU), an annual gathering of NFL tight ends who share their experiences and learn from each other. Last year’s inaugural event hosted 49 tight ends. This year’s gathering is expected to be even larger.
TEU will be held at Vanderbilt University from June 22-24, an upgrade from the high school facilities utilized in 2021.
After a strong response last year, 75 NFL tight ends — including @gregolsen88
Why So Negative? A Look at the Trey Lance Narrative
Trey Lance, who just celebrated his 22nd birthday on May 9, has played ten quarters of regular-season football thus far in his career with the 49ers. However, if you were to search his name on Twitter, or fire up the ol’ Google machine and search there, you would think that the kid has played for multiple seasons and has been downright awful at playing quarterback.
There are 49ers fans on Twitter who have no problem calling him a bust. There are countless national media members and analysts who continue to question Lance’s readiness to play the position. Whether it’s rumors of coaches and front office members being “continually underwhelmed” by the young
First look at 49ers rookies on the practice field
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off a three-day rookie minicamp this afternoon. It’s the first time players from the team’s latest draft class have been able to suit up and get on the practice field, including defensive lineman Drake Jackson, running back Ty Davis-Price, and wide receiver Danny Gray.
David Lombardi of The Athletic shared some videos of the rookie draft class going through their first practice in red and gold.
Rookie QB Brock Purdy in a 49ers uniform for the first time pic.twitter.com/NQnawclz62— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself)
49ers legend Bryant Young offers this advice to Trey Lance
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is preparing to enter his second NFL season, and likely his first as a full-time starter. He had two starts during his rookie campaign, but only because veteran Jimmy Garoppolo was injured.
49ers legend Bryant Young played on the defensive side of the football for 14 years, all with San Francisco. Young frustrated opposing quarterbacks during his illustrious career, bringing them down a team-record 89.5 times.
What advice does the soon-to-be Hall of Fame defender have for the 49ers’ 22-year-old quarterback?
“He’s a big kid,” Young said Wednesday on KNBR’s Murph & Mac show. “I got a chance to meet him at the 49ers Foundation event earlier in the year. Not only is he a big, athletic kid with a
Jimmy Garoppolo would love to team up with Deebo Samuel in another city.
The 49ers quarterback — who the team has been looking to trade since the end of last season — was asked about speculation that San Francisco could package him in a trade with the wide receiver.
“I would do that in a heartbeat, man,” Garoppolo said last Thursday on the “Stacking The Box” podcast — a day after Samuel asked the 49ers for a trade.
“I think those things will take care of themselves,” Garoppolo said, laughing. “But I didn’t even think about that. That’s not bad.”
The quarterback didn’t discuss his playing future any further.
Jimmy Garoppolo (left) and Deebo Samuel celebrate during Super Bowl LIV.Getty Images
After San Fransisco’s loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game in late January, Garoppolo said he and 49ers general manager John Lynch had talked “about finding the right destination” for the quarterback. Trading Garoppolo would free up $25.5 million in cap space and make room for the 49ers’ second-year quarterback Trey Lance to take over.
But, the 49ers remained stagnant while a bunch of quarterback moves were made. In February, ESPN reported “it’s not a lock” that the 49ers will trade Garoppolo, whose $137.5 million contract expires at the end of 2022. Lynch added at the time, that the 49ers have budgeted for the possibility that Garoppolo remains on the roster next season.
The 30-year-old underwent surgery on March 8 to repair the capsule in his throwing shoulder. Garoppolo is reportedly expected to be back throwing at full strength by late June or early July, barring any setbacks in his recovery. His recovery status, though, could be a red flag for teams.
Jimmy Garoppolo (left) and Deebo Samuel after the 49ers’ loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.Getty Images
Samuel has continued to share and delete cryptic messages on social media after it was reported that he was not happy with his usage in the offense.
“Reporters jobs is to make stories only people know the truth about situation is 49ers, [agent Tory Dandy], and Deebo Samuel,” he wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted.
Samuel was apparently out clubbing over the weekend and appeared to signal that he has no desire to stay in San Francisco. A social media video shows Samuel appearing to mouth “No” while slashing his hand across his neck when he sees bottle girls at a club holding up signs that read, “Deebo is staying #49ers.”
Yea, Deebo Samuel is OUT of San Francisco 😂
The bottle girls brought the sign out saying “Deebo is staying #49ers”
Only problem is, Deebo was there. Wait for his reaction🙅🏾♂️😂 pic.twitter.com/v6laTbx3Iz
— Quinton Mayo (@RealQuintonMayo) April 24, 2022
Packaging Garoppolo could make it easier to trade Samuel and offload the quarterback amid a crazy QB carousel.
A Garoppolo-Samuel pairing could work in Seattle or Carolina, as both teams are on the hunt for a new quarterback.
The Panthers were also reportedly interested in Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who requested a trade out of Cleveland when they made a play and obtained former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston could also be looking for a new quarterback.
The Panthers have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft Thursday, and reportedly won’t make other moves until after the first round.
Many pundits believed Jimmy Garoppolo would be on a different team by now, but the quarterback remains on the 49ers. When speaking with reporters today (including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), GM John Lynch revealed some details about trade negotiations, noting that the 49ers were discussing a deal in late February that ended up being derailed by Garoppolo’s surgery.
Now, with the quarterback carousel mostly complete, Lynch admitted that the front office is holding still on the Garoppolo front until a trade materializes. The GM even noted that Garappolo could enter the season on the 49ers roster, and he rejected the notion that the organization would release the veteran QB.
“I don’t foresee that,” Lynch said. “He’s too good a player. I think Jimmy will be playing for us or will be playing for someone else. He’s too good of a player not tyear’s draft. o be.”
Naturally, this wasn’t the intended plan after the 49ers gave up a boatload of picks to draft Trey Lance during last year’s draft. Lynch admitted as much when speaking with reporters.
“We value strength at that position,” Lynch said. “To be completely forthright, though, when you make a trade of that magnitude (for Lance), most of our options did not include Jimmy on our books (in 2022)…But you always have to adapt and a series of events happened that it didn’t work out. But that’s not a bad thing, though. We feel positive with it. And we’ll make it work.”
Albert Breer of SI.com provides some more insight into the QB situation, noting that Garoppolo’s shoulder has been the biggest factor in the 49ers’ trade difficulties. The plan was to trade the veteran after the “big quarterback dominoes fell,” but the injury changed things.
With the initial wave of free agency having crested, it’s time for another edition of the NFL Power Rankings. It’s also time to look forward to the next chapter of the offseason.
Sure, this offseason has had a lot to talk about so far, from quarterback trades (Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and Matt Ryan were major parts of a chaotic signal-caller carousel), trades of other star players (Davante Adams) and big-ticket free-agent signings (too many to mention). But there’s still more important work to be done between now and when training camps start in late July.
With that in mind, we asked our group of NFL Nation reporters to pick the next move the teams they cover need to make this offseason. The responses below run the gamut, from focusing on building through the draft (or rebuilding, as is the case for the Ryan-less Atlanta Falcons and the Watson-less Houston Texans), pulling off expected moves that have yet to be made (where will Jimmy Garoppolo end up?) or taking advantage of the next wave of free agency to fill in their rosters.
How we rank: Our power panel — a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities — evaluated how teams stack up throughout the season.
Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Way-too-early ranking: 2
Next offseason move: Find help at cornerback
The Bills could be without both of last year’s starting cornerbacks for Week 1, with Tre’Davious White rehabbing a torn ACL and Levi Wallace leaving for the Steelers in free agency. Entering his third season, Dane Jackson should have an opportunity to compete for the starting role opposite White, but the depth at the position is limited, especially for what should be a top defense in the NFL. Adding a veteran corner through free agency and investing in the position at the draft makes sense for Buffalo. — Alaina Getzenberg
Way-too-early ranking: 3
Next offseason move: Get a new deal done with Aaron Donald
General manager Les Snead said recently that Donald — who was noncommittal after the Rams’ Super Bowl victory about continuing his Hall of Fame career — has told the team he’d like to keep playing. The two sides have talked about an extension, per Snead, who described that situation as “in progress.” While the Rams have the rest of the offseason to extend Donald, the prospect of lowering his scheduled cap charge of $26.75 million gives them incentive to do it sooner rather than later. They’ve got around $10 million in cap space right now and still want to re-sign Odell Beckham Jr. while still leaving some money for other offseason expenses. — Brady Henderson
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Marcus Spears outlines why it won’t be an easy path to the playoffs for the Chiefs.
Way-too-early ranking: 1
Next offseason move: Acquire an edge pass-rusher
The Chiefs did retain Frank Clark on a reduced contract, but still need to provide more pass-rush help for Chris Jones. Melvin Ingram III filled the role nicely last year, but he’s a free agent. The Chiefs could re-sign him — otherwise, they’ll need to make the position a priority in the draft to bolster a unit that finished 29th in the NFL in sacks. — Adam Teicher
Way-too-early ranking: 14
Next offseason move: Address interior pass rush
A goal for the Bucs this offseason was to get a quicker, more explosive interior pass rush. Granted, they extended Vita Vea at the end of the season, but whom will he be paired up with as Ndamukong Suh remains unsigned? They need to choose whether to bring him back, sign another free agent or reload with a high draft pick. — Jenna Laine
Way-too-early ranking: 5
Next offseason move: Find some depth
Cincinnati did all the hard work during the early portion of free agency. The Bengals revamped their offensive line, added tight end Hayden Hurst and re-signed cornerback Eli Apple and defensive tackle B.J. Hill, two reasons the defense was so good in 2021. Now, it’s about finding some quality depth. Among the Bengals’ needs: WR, CB, FS and SS. If Cincinnati can find those guys, the roster — fresh off a Super Bowl appearance — will be in much better shape than it was in 2021. — Ben Baby
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Dan Orlovsky outlines why he sees the Packers drafting replacements for Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Way-too-early ranking: 4
Next offseason move: Replace Davante Adams
OK, so there’s probably little or no chance they can replace the All-Pro receiver with someone who can come close to matching what Adams did. No one is going to walk through the doors at Lambeau Field and have the connection Adams had with Aaron Rodgers. But they still need help, which was highlighted more by the loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the Chiefs. In fact, with the collection of Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers and others, an argument could be made that the Packers don’t even have a top-tier No. 2. — Rob Demovsky
Way-too-early ranking: 11
Next offseason move: Settle on a right tackle
The Bryan Bulaga experiment didn’t work out, as the veteran played in just 11 games over two injury-marred seasons after signing that three-year, $30 million deal two years ago and then getting cut this month. So do they rely on Storm Norton? Trey Pipkins III? Justin Herbert is one of the NFL’s young star QBs, but he needs protection. Especially in a division where every team has stocked up on elite pass-rushers. — Paul Gutierrez
Way-too-early ranking: 6
Next offseason move: Trade Jimmy Garoppolo
The Niners thus far have been unable to unload Garoppolo, in part because other, bigger quarterback dominoes set off a chain of events that has limited interest, and also because of a right shoulder surgery that makes acquiring him a riskier proposition. But this still needs to happen for all parties involved. The Niners could use the $25.55 million in cap space they’d create by trading him to sign their draft class and work out extensions for end Nick Bosa and receiver Deebo Samuel, while also clearing the decks for Trey Lance. This could take some time, but Garoppolo could use the fresh start, also. — Nick Wagoner
Way-too-early ranking: 7
Next offseason move: Help on the offensive line
The Cowboys released right tackle La’el Collins, who joined the Bengals. They did not try to retain left guard Connor Williams, who joined the Dolphins. While they believe in Terence Steele as their right tackle, they don’t have the same level of confidence in Connor McGovern. They have to find some veteran help for the interior of the offensive line (center and guard) and potentially a swing tackle because last year’s fourth-round pick, Josh Ball, did not play as a rookie because of an ankle injury. Without finding that help, the Cowboys are boxing themselves into having to draft a couple of offensive linemen early and needing them to perform their first season. — Todd Archer
Way-too-early ranking: 21
Next offseason move: Secure more help in the secondary
The Broncos signed cornerback K’Waun Williams, who will get the first look as the team’s nickel cornerback, but they entered free agency with three cornerbacks who started games last season — Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller and Nate Hairston — who were unrestricted free agents, as was safety Kareem Jackson. Williams does mitigate some of that with his versatility as a defender in the run game, in coverage as well as his work as a spot pass-rusher. But the Broncos still need to do some work there to build depth, and if Caden Sterns isn’t going to inherit Jackson’s safety spot, they need to bring back Jackson or someone like him. — Jeff Legwold
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Dianna Russini is baffled by Bart Scott’s assertion that the Chiefs and Titans are not top-five AFC teams.
Way-too-early ranking: 8
Next offseason move: Shore up the offensive line
The offensive line lost two starters from last season. Not placing a tender on restricted free agent David Quessenberry created a void at right tackle. The Titans also have a hole to fill at left guard after releasing Rodger Saffold III to clear up cap space. Second-year offensive lineman Dillon Radunz figures to start at one of the positions. Beyond Radunz, there aren’t many proven options. Aaron Brewer has filled in at left guard in the past. Another possibility is free-agent addition Jamarco Jones, who has seven career starts. Tennessee will likely address the offensive line with an early draft pick. — Turron Davenport
Way-too-early ranking: 12
Next offseason move: Add a pass-rusher
Finding a proven pass-rusher remains a huge need since Za’Darius Smith backed out of his four-year, $35 million deal on March 17 and then signed with the Vikings. The Ravens’ current top two outside linebackers — Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser — are coming off offseason surgeries and have a combined 22.5 career sacks. It’s been a void in Baltimore for a while; the team hasn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks in a season since Terrell Suggs in 2017. The Ravens have to land an edge rusher who can get to the likes of Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow. — Jamison Hensley
Way-too-early ranking: 15
Next offseason move: Address the offensive line
Yeah, it’s great and all that Las Vegas added the best receiver in the NFL (and Derek Carr’s college bestie) in Davante Adams. But if Carr has no time to find him downfield, what’s the point? Carr was sacked 40 times in 2021 and, as it stands now, it looks like the Raiders’ new regime is prepared to run it back with the same offensive line. Granted, Denzelle Good is coming back from a knee injury, but the Raiders aren’t done here, are they? — Paul Gutierrez
Way-too-early ranking: 13
Next offseason move: Get some receivers
The cupboard in the receiver room isn’t stocked. Veteran T.Y. Hilton is a free agent. Zach Pascal is now in Philadelphia. Parris Campbell hasn’t proved that he can stay healthy long enough to become a factor. That leaves Michael Pittman Jr. looking around for help at receiver. Adding pieces at receiver will not only help ease the transition to Indianapolis for new starter Matt Ryan, but it’ll also do wonders for the leading rusher in the NFL, Jonathan Taylor. — Mike Wells
Way-too-early ranking: 9
Next offseason move: Add a starting left guard
Nothing should be more important than protecting Mac Jones, and in turn opening holes for running backs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. Now there’s a major void at left guard after Ted Karras signed with the Bengals in free agency. In 2016, the Patriots drafted Joe Thuney in the third round and he was a plug-and-play starter from day one. Finding this year’s version of Thuney would be ideal in a draft that appears deep with interior linemen. — Mike Reiss
Way-too-early ranking: 16
Next offseason move: Re-sign Jadeveon Clowney
The one remaining glaring weakness on the Cleveland roster is a pass-rusher opposite of Myles Garrett. Jadeveon Clowney filled that role admirably last year, giving the Browns one of the top pass-rushing units in the league. Clowney has been looking around, with hopes of getting a big-money deal. The Browns need to convince him that Cleveland is where he needs to be after he shined there in 2021. — Jake Trotter
Way-too-early ranking: 17
Next offseason move: Get in the lab
Miami bolstered its offensive line and completely revamped its skill-position talent — highlighted by receiver Tyreek Hill, tackle Terron Armstead and running back Raheem Mostert. This should be one of the fastest teams in the NFL. Besides depth at linebacker, this roster is about as set as it’s going to be. All that’s left to do now is build chemistry and learn the playbook. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Way-too-early ranking: 10
Next offseason move: Get a No. 2 receiver
After letting Christian Kirk go in free agency and with A.J. Green still a free agent, the Cardinals don’t have a true No. 2 receiver to complement DeAndre Hopkins. Rondale Moore is capable, but he’s not a No. 2. Arizona let a number of receivers go by in free agency, but in order for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to work, it needs a No. 2 who causes defenses to game-plan around him — and at the very least is able to make plays when Hopkins gets coverage rolled to him. — Josh Weinfuss
Way-too-early ranking: 19
Next offseason move: Bolster the secondary
With Rodney McLeod and Steven Nelson no longer under contract, the Eagles are still without a starting safety and starting cornerback for 2022. They took a swing at a couple of the top free-agent safeties, but were unable to land one. Instead, they brought back Anthony Harris on a one-year deal. While that helps fill out the secondary picture, it doesn’t complete it. Cornerback Darius Slay still needs a counterpart. The Eagles seem to like a few of the young CBs on the roster like Zech McPhearson, Tay Gowan and Kary Vincent Jr., but need to continue to add. They’ll look to the second wave of free agency and the draft — where they hold three first-round picks — to address those needs. — Tim McManus
Way-too-early ranking: 18
Next offseason move: Sign a starting safety
Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the best safeties in the league, but he needs a running mate. The Steelers declined Terrell Edmunds’ fifth-year option, making him a free agent. He is still available after the first wave of free agency, but so is Tyrann Mathieu. But the Honey Badger doesn’t fit the mold of a Steelers free agent. At 29 years old, Mathieu is older than most of the Steelers’ free-agent signings, and he would probably command a higher-priced contract. — Brooke Pryor
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Marcus Spears breaks down former Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith signing with the Vikings.
Way-too-early ranking: 20
Next offseason move: Rebuild the secondary
At the moment, the Vikings are essentially down three starters from 2021. Cornerback Patrick Peterson and nickelback Mackensie Alexander are free agents, and safety Xavier Woods signed with the Panthers in free agency. It’s possible the Vikings will promote backup safety Camryn Bynum into a more prominent role, but they’ll also have to take into account that safety Harrison Smith is 33. The team hasn’t made a prominent addition to the secondary during free agency and will need to find more help in the draft. — Kevin Seifert
Way-too-early ranking: 22
Next offseason move: Add a top receiver
Heck, maybe even add two. The Saints plummeted to 32nd in the NFL in passing yards last season, largely because of major injuries to quarterback Jameis Winston, receiver Michael Thomas and the offensive line. Getting Thomas back from his ankle injury should provide a huge boost. But the Saints need to add at least one more premium pass-catcher in free agency or the draft, if not both. They should have some excellent options with the 18th pick. — Mike Triplett
Way-too-early ranking: 25
Next offseason move: Add a middle linebacker
Washington wants to use Cole Holcomb and Jamin Davis, last year’s first-round pick, on the outside and needs someone to fill the middle. While Holcomb can play there, the Commanders want someone who is a more natural fit, resulting in more decisiveness — but also allowing the other two to play where they’re more suited. The draft has several strong candidates. Washington also needs to find someone who can fill the Buffalo nickel — a hybrid linebacker/safety role — that Landon Collins played so well last season. Both spots are vital. — John Keim
Way-too-early ranking: 26
Next offseason move: Embrace the rebuild, but prioritize Justin Fields’ growth
The Bears have taken a prudent approach to free agency with Ryan Poles, as the first-year general manager hasn’t made any splashy signings. That patience could end up paying off, as Chicago could sign some veterans for cheap later this offseason, but the team needs to bring in at least one starting-caliber offensive tackle, another guard, a receiver and a corner. Year 2 of Fields’ career is the most important for his development and in showing Chicago whether it has a franchise quarterback or needs to start thinking about taking another swing at one in 2023. The only way to find that out is by giving Fields an adequate amount of support to succeed this season. — Courtney Cronin
Way-too-early ranking: 27
Next offseason move: Fix the offensive line
Signing Mark Glowinski to start at guard and adding Jon Feliciano at center isn’t anywhere near enough to fix a line that might need four new starters. The Giants still must find a high-end lineman. Of course, that is not likely to come through free agency. They never had the money this year to make that happen given their salary-cap crunch. So it’s on to the draft, where the Giants have the No. 5 and No. 7 overall picks and the options are plentiful. — Jordan Raanan
Way-too-early ranking: 23
Next offseason move: Find competition for Drew Lock
The Seahawks are higher on Lock than you might think and want to give him a shot to show he can be Russell Wilson’s long-term replacement. But they aren’t going to hand him the starting job. They want to re-sign Geno Smith to compete with Lock and could further add in April’s draft — though probably not with a first-round pick. Baker Mayfield is available, but the Seahawks don’t want to take on his $19 million salary. That’s a prohibitive cost for someone who would be competing for the QB job. Besides, they have to set aside a good chunk of their remaining cap space to extend DK Metcalf’s rookie contract, which will be pricey. — Brady Henderson
Way-too-early ranking: 32
Next offseason move: Add another pass-rusher
The Jaguars didn’t add a pass-rusher in free agency, so it has to be a priority in the draft. Josh Allen had his best season as a rookie (10.5 sacks in 2019) when he was playing with Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. But since then, he has 10 sacks in the 24 games. Whether it’s Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 1 overall or another rusher in the second or third round, the Jaguars have to get Allen some help. — Michael DiRocco
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Damien Woody and Dan Orlovsky agree Sam Darnold is the best option for the Panthers given the quarterbacks available.
Way-too-early ranking: 29
Next offseason move: Find a franchise quarterback
This really hasn’t changed since the offseason began. The Panthers made a run at trading for Deshaun Watson, but the Browns acquired him. With a weak group of free-agent quarterbacks, the focus should be on drafting a quarterback — whether it’s Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett or Ole Miss’ Matt Corral. If Carolina is convinced any of them can be a long-term solution, then take a QB with the No. 6 pick and continue to build with a young player at a low cap number. Left tackle remains a concern, but the top two likely will be gone by the time the Panthers pick. — David Newton
Way-too-early ranking: 24
Next offseason move: Delineate a long-term plan
With Matt Ryan now in Indianapolis and Atlanta paying $62 million in dead money for 2022, almost everything the Falcons need to do has to be with a longer-term plan in mind. With the money they have left for this season, they need to figure out everything in more of a two-year window — including whether or not they pursue a quarterback in this draft or not. There are also bigger questions at receiver and pass-rusher, where massive holes remain. — Michael Rothstein
Way-too-early ranking: 28
Next offseason move: Add an edge rusher
Robert Saleh’s defense can’t function without a strong pass rush and needs another threat on the edge. Carl Lawson will return from an Achilles injury, but that’s not enough. The Jets signed Jacob Martin in free agency, but he is just a rotational piece. They flirted with Chandler Jones, but nothing came of it. Their last hope is the draft, so look for an edge player with the fourth or 10th overall pick. The names to watch are Travon Walker, Jermaine Johnson II and Kayvon Thibodeaux. — Rich Cimini
Way-too-early ranking: 30
Next offseason move: Draft a receiver
Yes, the Lions did address their deep-threat need in free agency by signing Pro Bowler DJ Chark Jr. to complement Josh Reynolds and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but they’re still taking a risk in projecting that Chark can actually thrive in that role. Detroit should still consider grabbing another strong receiver high in the draft, as it has three picks in the top 34. Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El enjoyed a successful NFL career as a player and is itching to develop a young prospect, much like he did with St. Brown, who was a fourth-round selection in 2021. — Eric Woodyard
Way-too-early ranking: 31
Next offseason move: Find a running back
The Texans signed Rex Burkhead to an extension at the end of last season and added Dare Ogunbowale in free agency, but they’re in need of an impact back — which is something they haven’t had in several seasons. The Texans’ best bet now looks to be adding to their backfield in the draft, although Houston has so many needs on its roster that it’s hard to pick just one spot to prioritize. — Sarah Barshop
