Jimmy Garoppolo to the Houston Texans only makes sense.
The former 2014 second-round pick from Eastern Illinois has connections to both Texans general manager Nick Caserio and new coach DeMeco Ryans. Garoppolo was Tom Brady’s backup with the New England Patriots from 2016-17, and then was the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-22. Garoppolo’s entire NFL is what links him to Caserio with the Patriots and then Ryans with the 49ers.
The Texans know that Davis Mills is not the solution as the former 2021 third-rounder went 3-11-1 as the main signal caller in Houston’s offense. Changing offensive coordinators from Pep Hamilton to Bobby Slowik, who used to be the 49ers’ passing game coordinator, doesn’t inspire any further confidence to go with Mills.
If the Texans don’t want to use the 2023 NFL draft to find their franchise quarterback, then Garoppolo would seemingly be a natural fit.
So says Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, who said on a recent airing of “NFL Live” that Garoppolo is expected to be the third-best field general in a free agency field that includes Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr.
“Natural fits,” Fowler said. “You got the Houston Texans if they need a bridge option behind whoever they draft and then the Atlanta Falcons, because Arthur Smith runs a variation of that Kyle Shanahan’s system.”
According to Fowler, Garoppolo wants a contract on par with his ability and skillset.
Over at Spotrac, the comparable players table has Garoppolo earning anywhere from Ryan Tannehill’s $29.5 million per year to Carr’s $40.5 million per year.
Going with a veteran quarterback at that price on a rebuilding team is a recipe to stay on pro football’s wheel of suffering. Houston’s contract obligations to Garoppolo would be too large to shore up other areas of the roster, which is where their needs have to be focused this offseason.
For those same reasons, that is why Garoppolo wouldn’t be a fit for the Texans. The club is still in the rebuilding phase after sustaining three consecutive double-digit losing seasons. Garoppolo was quarterbacking the 49ers to NFC Championship Games, not wasting his career on wild-card one-and-dones.
If Garoppolo wants a contract commensurate with his abilities, then it is unlikely he would be willing to sit behind another rookie quarterback finding his way in the NFL. Why not stay in San Francisco?
Should the Texans want to continue with frustration and handicap their salary cap with a veteran quarterback, then Garoppolo would be a natural fit. Otherwise the focus should be on determining who is the better franchise quarterback between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud and not giving anymore reps to progress-stopping veterans.
