Jimmy Garoppolo Rumors: Salary Cap, Release Request, Trade Chances
The offseason drama around 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finally came to fruition in the form of a restructured contract this Monday. This certainly doesn’t end the speculation over Garoppolo’s future, but, for the time being, it appears he can get comfortable for an
other season in San Francisco.
In terms of the effects of the restructured deal, Garoppolo’s renegotiated contract will carry a cap hit of $13.99MM, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. This will clear $12.96MM of cap space for the 49ers, who desperately need it as they sat “at the bottom of the NFL in cap space” before the move.
Here are a few more rumors surrounding all of the Garoppolo drama from this offseason:
- We live in a day and age where it’s become quite common for star players and role players alike to make demands of their teams. It’s no surprise, though, that Garoppolo never felt the need to “ruffle feathers.” When asked about whether or not he ever requested a trade or release, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Garoppolo told the media, “That just wasn’t the way I wanted to go. There was a thought of that at one point, trust me, there was, but that came and went.” He continued, “Things just kept falling into place. I’m one of those people that, you know, I don’t want to ruffle feathers too much here and there. I want to go with the flow.”
- In his first press conference since the news broke, Garoppolo seemed to confirm something we had heard awhile back. Back in early-May, general manager John Lynch told reporters that Garoppolo’s surgery brought trade discussions “to a screeching halt.” Lynch had thought the team was really close in discussions with a couple of teams before Garoppolo’s surgery. In Garoppolo’s recent press conference, he explained that he attempted rehabilitation first, according to Armando Salguero of Outkick.com. When the rehabilitation just wasn’t getting the job done, the shoulder surgery became non-elective. Garoppolo got the surgery and the timing of the procedure doused any sparks Lynch had managed to create in trade conversations.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22
Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, LS Aaron Brewer, CB Mike Ford, G Colby Gossett, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Dean Marlowe
- Placed on IR: S Charles Washington, WR Antoine Wesley
- Waived from IR: OL Greg Long
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson,
- Placed on IR: DL Marlon Davidson, TE John Fitzpatrick, LB Deion Jones, OL Jalen Mayfield, CB Isaiah Oliver
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: DT Aaron Crawford
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Placed on IR: WR N’Keal Harry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB C.J. Goodwin, LS Jake McQuaide
- Placed on IR: OT Tyron Smith, WR James Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips, DT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: DB Essang Bassey
- Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia
- Released from IR: CB Donnie Lewis
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: WR Danny Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Caleb Johnson
- Released: DL Adam Gotsis
- Reverted to IR: K Jake Verity
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Daniel Hardy
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Released from IR: CB Mackensie Alexander, DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
- Placed on IR: OT Trevor Penning, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): G Tyre Phillips
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux, DE Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
- Released from IR: TE Dre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: S Marcell Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): LB Jamir Jones
- Released: LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tyler Kroft, DE Jordan Willis
- Placed on IR: LB Curtis Robinson, S Jimmie Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Justin Coleman
- Placed on IR: DL LJ Collier
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Jensen
- Waived/injured: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Cody Hollister
- Placed on IR: WR Racey McMath
Eagles Claim RB Trey Sermon
The 49ers’ plan to stash Trey Sermon on their practice squad will not come to pass. The Eagles intervened via a waiver claim, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Sermon will take the Philadelphia roster spot vacated by Wednesday’s Jalen Reagor trade.
Although Sermon flamed out quickly in San Francisco, he will head to a team that is coming off a season in which its rushing attack led the NFL. The Eagles will add the 2021 third-round pick to a backfield stable that includes Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and 2021 draftee Kenneth Gainwell.
The Eagles engaged in trade talks with the 49ers for Sermon last week, per Schefter, but nothing came to pass (Twitter link). San Francisco was holding one of its 16 practice squad slots for the back it traded up to land at No. 88 last year. But Sermon never quite escaped Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse. He will attempt to start over in Philly.
Sermon, who was productive at both Oklahoma and Ohio State, is going into his age-23 season. He did average 4.1 yards per carry last season, but it came on just 41 handoffs. Sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell leapfrogged him by Week 1 of last season, and after it appeared Sermon was going to be a major part of San Francisco’s run game, he never gained a foothold in Shanahan’s offense. Despite Mitchell battling multiple injuries last season, Sermon started just two games and cleared 35 rushing yards in just one contest.
Philadelphia pivoted to its ground game midway through last season, and the Sanders- and Jalen Hurts-driven attack ended the campaign atop the league in rushing yards. It might be difficult for Sermon to carve out a regular role in Philly this season, though Sanders and Scott are going into contract years. Sermon, who averaged north of seven yards per tote in his junior and senior seasons (albeit with limited workloads), showing enough this year could earn him a bigger role down the line. Three years remain on Sermon’s rookie contract.
49ers Waive RB Trey Sermon
SEPTEMBER 1: Should Sermon clear waivers, the 49ers plan to offer him a practice squad spot, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. With claims on the second-year back to be known soon, Sermon’s next stop should be determined Thursday.
AUGUST 31: San Francisco turned heads when selecting Trey Sermon as high as they did last season. Today, his 49ers tenure as taken another notable turn as the team is waiving him (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates).
The Oklahoma and Ohio State product only topped 1,000 scrimmage yards once in his four-year college career. However, his 870 rushing yards (on an average of 7.5 per carry) with the Buckeyes in 2020 helped boost his draft stock. The 49ers selected him in the third round – having traded up to do so – adding another back to Kyle Shanahan‘s well-known committee system.
As a rookie, the 23-year-old started just two of the nine games he played in. He turned 41 carries into 167 yards and one touchdown, hardly the production which would be expected of such a highly-drafted back. The presence of Jeff Wilson and Elijah Mitchell left him with plenty of competition for touches in both the short- and long-term.
That became especially true when the 49ers took another third-round back this past April, drafting Tyrion Davis-Price. His addition spoke to the regard in which Sermon was held by the front office, although recent remarks from general manager John Lynch suggested that this move was unlikely.
“He worked incredibly hard and had a tremendous offseason,” Lynch said of Sermon last week (Twitter link via PFF’s Doug Kyed). “[It] hasn’t showed up in the games, but throughout training camp [he] has been one of our best players.”
Yates’ colleague Adam Schefter tweets that the 49ers waived Sermon to accommodate the arrival of former Browns guard Blake Hence, whom they claimed earlier today. Whether Sermon is able to return to San Francisco’s practice squad, or gets claimed by a team likely to have a larger workload to offer him will be worth watching.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, WR Victor Bolden Jr., OL Rashaad Coward, OL Danny Isidora, DL Manny Jones, WR Jontre Kirklin, LB Jesse Luketa, QB Trace McSorley, TE Bernhard Seikovits (international player), CB Jace Whittaker, DL Antwaun Woods, LB Chandler Wooten
Los Angeles Rams
Signed to practice squad:
- T A.J. Arcuri, T Chandler Brewer, DE Earnest Brown IV, TE Roger Carter Jr.., DB TJ Carter, DE T.J. Carter, DT Elijah Garcia, DB Grant Haley, TE Jacob Harris, DB Dan Isom, G Jeremiah Kolone, TE Jared Pinkney, T Max Pircher (international player), RB Trey Ragas, DE Brayden Thomas, WR Austin Trammell, DE Benton Whitley
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- TE Tyler Kroft, DL Jordan Willis
Claimed:
- OL Blake Hance (from Browns)
Placed on IR:
- LB Curtis Robinson, DB Jimmie Ward
Released from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Alex Barrett, S Tashaun Gipson, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, S Tayler Hawkins, CB Qwuantrezz Knight, WR Tay Martin, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, OL Jason Poe, WR Willie Snead, DL Akeem Spence, OL Keaton Sutherland, DL Kemoko Turay, WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
- DB Isaiah Dunn (from Jets), DE Daryl Johnson (from Panthers)
Waived:
- LB Joshua Onujiogu
Placed on IR:
- DE L.J. Collier, CB John Reid
Reverted to IR:
- RB Josh Johnson
Signed to practice squad:
- WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, LB Aaron Donkor (international playear), T Greg Eiland, WR Cade Johnson, LB Vi Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, QB Sean Mannion (story), WR Bo Melton, CB Quandre Mosely, LB Tanner Muse, S Scott Nelson, T Liam Ryan, RB Darwin Thompson
Lions To Waive QB David Blough, Plan To Sign QB Nate Sudfeld
Currently, Jared Goff is flying solo at quarterback for the Lions. The team made the call to waive backup David Blough on Wednesday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Detroit’s new plan centers around Nate Sudfeld, whom NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds is expected to sign and be Goff’s new backup (Twitter link).
The Lions engaged in trade discussions with the 49ers, but the teams could not come to terms. After the 49ers decided to move on and give their third-string job to Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, Sudfeld is now free to sign with the Lions.
As for Blough, who has been with the Lions since 2019, the team would like the Hard Knocks cast member to stay on as a practice squad arm, Schefter tweets. The former Purdue quarterback initially signed with the Browns as a UDFA but became a Lion via a late-summer trade three years ago. After making five starts as a rookie, Blough spent part of the 2020 season on Detroit’s practice squad. He was on the team’s active roster last season.
Sudfeld, 28, will join his fourth NFL team soon. While he has never made an NFL start in six seasons, the Indiana product’s cameo in Week 17 of the 2020 season — when he replaced Jalen Hurts late in a pivotal (though not for the Eagles) season finale — became rather controversial. Sudfeld has attempted 37 career passes, completing 25 of them (at 5.1 yards per attempt, however).
The former Washington UDFA spent much of his career as a Philadelphia third-stringer, who did rise to the position of Nick Foles‘ backup during consecutive Eagles playoff runs. Sudfeld landed in San Francisco last year. Jimmy Garoppolo‘s decision to accept the 49ers’ pay-cut offer changed the 49ers’ depth chart, pushing Purdy down to No. 3. Sudfeld could not secure that gig but looks to be moving to a No. 2 role soon.
49ers Approached Jimmy Garoppolo About Staying Weeks Ago
Although the 49ers attempted to trade Jimmy Garoppolo for months — both before and after his March shoulder surgery — the parties agreed to a surprising reunion. While Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday he did not believe this was a possibility, he floated it to his former starting quarterback near the start of training camp.
Garoppolo had been working away from the 49ers since camp opened, but Shanahan and John Lynch broached the subject of a return for a sixth San Francisco season about a month ago, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes.
“I remember the first week of camp, me saying to Jimmy, ‘Hey, if you don’t like any of these opportunities, you don’t go to the place you want, you can’t get the contract you want, we would love to have you here as a backup, in a backup role,” Shanahan said, continuing to affirm Trey Lance has commandeered the 49ers’ QB1 gig. “But I want you to know that we feel that way. But I also think there’s no way you’re not going to get something as this goes throughout training camp.
“And Jimmy agreed with that. And we waited throughout all training camp. I think as he saw the other situations out there, it seems like everyone was just waiting for us to cut him to see how much they could get him for.”
Lance did not threaten Garoppolo’s job status last season; the starter returned after missing time with early- and late-season injuries. (Lance also dealt with a finger injury that limited his effort to be San Francisco’s starter.) Garoppolo coming back to be Lance’s backup does invite questions about the 30-year-old passer making another bid at the starting job, but Shanahan and Lynch stressed to Lance a Garoppolo return would be contingent on a QB2 role.
Garoppolo’s camp searched for a team that would agree to pay him his $24.2MM base salary or a discounted rate, but nothing materialized. The ninth-year QB waited out the weekend’s final preseason games to see if an injury would change the equation. When it did not, he agreed to the 49ers’ compromise, Branch adds.
“There were no problems with it at all,” Shanahan said of informing Lance of a Garoppolo return. “I told [Trey] the exact same thing that I told Jimmy. The options of Jimmy being here: That it had to be in a backup-type deal, which Jimmy knew was his option. We told that to Trey also. When I told Trey that Jimmy was going to come back, he was like, ‘Awesome. That dude was awesome for me last year. I can’t wait to be the same way.'”
The incentives in Garoppolo’s revised contract ($6.5MM base, $15.45MM max value) surfaced Tuesday as well. As thrilled as Lance might be Garoppolo could mentor him, his contract would pay him far more if the 49ers reinstated their old arrangement.
Garoppolo will receive $250K for each game in which he takes at least 25% of the offensive snaps, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. For every game this happens and the 49ers win, Garoppolo pockets another $100K. Should Garoppolo take half the snaps in a playoff game, he would collect $500K. If a Garoppolo-quarterbacked 49ers team wins the NFC title, another $500K would be included. A $1MM incentive exists if Garoppolo plays at least 50% of the snaps for the 49ers in Super Bowl LVII, Garafolo adds.
This will be the third contract Garoppolo has played on with the 49ers, who took on his Patriots rookie deal in 2017 and gave him a five-year, $137.5MM deal in 2018. Garoppolo nearly played out that lucrative second contract, and while Lance is presently entrenched as the 49ers’ starter, the team’s previous first-stringer represents unique insurance. The 49ers could still end up trading Garoppolo to an approved destination by the Nov. 1 deadline, but it certainly cannot be ruled out the veteran retakes the reins from his unseasoned teammate at some point as well.
49ers Set 53-Man Roster, Plan To Place S Jimmie Ward On IR
The 49ers’ 53-man roster is set, with a couple of exceptions. Multiple players included among Tuesday’s cuts will be back with the team. Some will also stick around via the practice squad. Here is how San Francisco reached the 53-man limit:
Released:
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- S Tashaun Gipson (story)
- CB Dontae Johnson
- WR Marcus Johnson
- TE Tyler Kroft
- OL Jordan Mills
- WR Willie Snead
- DL Akeem Spence
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DL Kemoko Turay (story)
- WR Malik Turner
- DL Jordan Willis
Waived:
- DL Kevin Atkins
- DL Alex Barrett
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- RB JaMycal Hasty
- S Tayler Hawkins
- CB Qwuantrezz Knight
- WR Tay Martin
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- LB Segun Olubi
- OL Jason Poe
- OL Justin Skule
- OL Keaton Sutherland
Kroft and Willis will be on the 53-man roster soon, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, who notes (via Twitter) the two have agreed to re-sign with the 49ers. Each is a vested veteran, allowing them to skip the waiver process. A Bengals draftee, Kroft spent two seasons in Buffalo and was with the Jets in 2021. A rotational D-lineman, Willis has been with the 49ers since 2020.
These two will take the roster spots of Jimmie Ward and linebacker Curtis Robinson, who will each be placed on IR. By waiting until Wednesday to move each to IR, the 49ers will ensure Ward and Robinson can play in 2022. Ward suffered what appears to be a significant hamstring injury and will miss at least the first four games this season.
Hasty has resided as a fill-in back for the 49ers over the past two seasons; they have needed him in each. The team currently rosters Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and rookie Tyrion Davis-Price at running back. Snead and Turner signed with the 49ers this offseason; each has practice squad eligibility. Teams can carry up to six vested veterans on their 16-man taxi squads. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy beat out Sudfeld for the 49ers’ No. 3 QB job. Offset language exists in Sudfeld’s deal, Maiocco tweets, allowing the 49ers to potentially be off the hook for the $2MM they guaranteed him.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that Jimmy Garoppolo — back after taking a pay cut — will be Trey Lance‘s top backup. While this would have been quite the gamble, Shanahan said Purdy would have been Lance’s backup had Garoppolo not accepted the pay cut (Twitter link via Maiocco).
49ers To Release S Tashaun Gipson
Very shortly after his arrival in San Francisco, Tashaun Gipson is already back on the open market. The veteran is being released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
The 32-year-old signed last week, providing the team with an experienced option on the backend – something which was deemed necessary given the uncertainty surrounding starter Jimmie Ward. The latter, it has seen been learned, will likely miss at least the first month of the regular season as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
That makes the Gipson release somewhat surprising, and leaves the 49ers in the same situation they were in before their preseason finale at safety. Gipson could have been a starter, given his extensive experience with the Browns, Jaguars, Texans and, most recently, Bears. His struggles in pass coverage likely contributed to his lengthy stretch as a free agent, however.
San Francisco has Tarvarius Moore and George Odum as internal options to replace Ward as a starter alongside 2021 fifth-rounder Talanoa Hufanga. They will also have some added flexibility from a financial standpoint after re-working Jimmy Garoppolo‘s contract if they wish to add another free agent. One option could be Anthony Harris, who was let go earlier today by the Eagles.
Gipson, meanwhile, will join Harris in looking for a new landing spot – either on San Francisco’s practice squad or a 53-man roster elsewhere – in the days leading up to the regular season.
49ers To Release DE Kemoko Turay
Kemoko Turay will be part of the 49ers’ roster cuts Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Turay is a vested veteran and will head straight to free agency.
The 49ers took a flier on Turay, giving the 27-year-old edge rusher a one-year deal worth $1.7MM. The team will eat a bit of dead money, after guaranteeing the Rutgers product $1MM.
San Francisco has assembled a deep defensive line, creating a roster crunch of sorts. In addition to Turay, the 49ers brought back Kerry Hyder (after a year in Seattle) and used a second-round pick on defensive end Drake Jackson. The team’s depth here has resulted in a former second-round pick being cut.
The former Colts draftee could be an intriguing depth add for a team soon. Although Turay has battled injuries during much of his career, he registered 5.5 sacks during his final Indianapolis season.
One of a few D-linemen the Colts have taken in Round 2 in recent years, Turay did not stick as a starter. He has lined up as a first-stringer in only three games (all in 2018), with injuries in 2019 and ’20 doing well to move him to the rotational level for good. But the former No. 52 overall pick totaled four sacks and 13 QB hits as a rookie and re-emerged from his injury trouble to play in 13 games last season.