A lot of NFL teams could be changing quarterbacks this offseason. That’s beneficial for the 49ers as they look to trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo. There’s one QB-needy team that can be removed from the list though.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times joined Willard and Dibs on 95.7 the Game in San Francisco and said the Buccaneers don’t like the fit with Garoppolo in head coach Bruce Arians’ offense.
“I would say none,” Stroud said when asked how much interest Tampa Bay has in Garoppolo. “I’ve talked to them about him, and … what was told to me is, ‘Yeah. He’d be great if you’re gonna commit to running the football 40 times a game.
“With Bruce they’re gonna try to attack down the field, and Jimmy is not a good deep ball thrower percentage-wise for sure. What was said to me was, ‘Look if he could throw the deep ball they’d have won two Super Bowls already.’ So, I don’t expect the Bucs to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo.”
The Buccaneers have been No. 1 in intended air yards in all three of Arians’ season as their head coach per Pro Football Reference. By comparison the 49ers finished last and 29th in intended air yards in Garoppolo’s two full seasons as a starter.
It’s clear based on the numbers that the fit wouldn’t have been ideal, and it sounds like Tampa Bay is on that same page. There are still plenty of teams that’ll need quarterbacks which is good news for the 49ers. The Bucs can probably be crossed off the list.
