Somehow, though it’s not a new concept, the Lions have been named a ‘brand new landing spot’ for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Just as soon as they get a trade offer to their liking, the San Francisco 49ers will trade Jimmy Garoppolo. Or they could cut him, since he’s persona non grata for them right now, or he could ask for his release. But for now, the 49ers wait for a need to surface elsewhere.
The Detroit Lions have been named a potential suitor for Garoppolo by some. That conveniently ignores the fact they are committed to Jared Goff as their starting quarterback for this year, as they did not even add a rookie who could possibly overtake him this offseason.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has listed the Lions as a “brand new landing spot” for Garoppolo.
"The Detroit Lions may emerge as a contender for a healthy Garoppolo’s services.They are one of the more intriguing up-and-coming squads in the league. While the Lions have been inept for years, team brass has quietly assembled a promising young roster with several playmakers on both sides of the ball.Goff went just 3-10-1 in the Motor City and does not appear to be the long-term fix for the Lions’ QB woes.Garoppolo represents a major upgrade as a proven winner….The costs of acquiring him would be low. Although the Lions would have to take on his $24.2 million base salary, a conditional Day 3 pick was enough for the Panthers to get Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns, and a similar offer would likely work for Garoppolo.He may not take Detroit to the Super Bowl immediately, but securing Garoppolo and keeping him around on a long-term extension would cross off the biggest to-do item on the team’s rebuilding list."
Lions not a brand new, or especially realistic, landing spot for Jimmy Garoppolo
Even within work done on Bleacher Report, the idea of the Lions as a landing spot for Garoppolo is not brand new.
Addressing some of Kay’s points…
-Garoppolo might be a “proven winner”, but let’s not pretend the 49ers won a lot of games purely because of his skill. As said by Mike Florio once, Kyle Shanahan turned him into Bob Griese during their run to the Super Bowl.
-The Lions are not in any position to take on Garoppolo’s salary for this year, unless the 49ers take Goff back in the trade.
-The Lions, coming off what they’ll pay Goff for at least two seasons (as we speak anyway), will not (ok, should not) want Garoppolo on a long-term deal. Both are bridge quarterbacks.
The Garoppolo to the Lions thing makes no more sense than Baker Mayfield to the Lions did. With Mayfield, there was at least an angle of the general manager that drafted him (John Dorsey) working in Detroit’s front office and his being a possible strong advocate for the move.
It’s dangerous to say something will never happen when it comes to NFL business. But Garoppolo to the Lions is as close to never happening as it can get, despite the talk that continues to go against logic.