4. Denver Broncos would have flexibility beyond 2022
This may shock a lot of people, but acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 wouldn’t handcuff the Denver Broncos for the future.
Even more shocking, the Broncos could re-sign Garoppolo to a contract over the next 2-3 years and still not be handcuffed going forward.
It’s crazy, I know, but it’s also true.
Acquiring Garoppolo isn’t going to cost anywhere near as much in a trade as we could see for other quarterbacks. It’s also not going to cost anywhere near as much financially.
Garoppolo’s base salary in 2022 is just over $24 million. When he signed his contract a few years ago, it seemed like the 49ers were vastly overpaying. Now, $24 million is basically the bottom of the barrel for second- or third-contract quarterbacks in the NFL.
There is a giant chasm between the top-paid players at the position in the league right now.
Derek Carr currently ranks 14th in the NFL at $25 million average annual salary. The next closest guy on the list is Andy Dalton at $10 million.
There’s really no in-between ground and so quarterbacks getting paid $25 million annually is really not all that crazy.
Garoppolo’s current average salary is $27.5 million and at the age of $30 with what he’s accomplished, that’s a pretty reasonable amount given what other guys are being paid these days.
Acquiring Garoppolo isn’t going to deplete your draft assets. It’s not going to deplete your salary cap space or ability to sign other free agents.