Free agency hasn’t even started around the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers are on the verge of already being considered winners. It was noted over the weekend that San Francisco was making significant progress on a long-term deal with impressive young quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Now comes this report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport noting that he expects a deal to be done within the next couple of days.
“I think it’s getting pretty close to getting done,” Rapoport said, via local Northern California radio station KNBR. “You know, barring some sort of negotiating snag, I would expect this in a couple days, pretty close. I don’t think they’re at a point where they’ve reached an agreement, but it sounds like it’s getting there. A multi-year deal, lucrative, big money, top quarterback money. I’m not sure it’s gonna be Derek Carr, but I would imagine it’s gonna be right around there.”
The deal will likely be in the ballpark of what Derek Carr received from the Oakland Raiders last year. Carr’s current contract pays him $125 million over five seasons with $70.2 million guaranteed.
Garoppolo, an original second-round pick of the New England Patriots back in 2014, was acquired by San Francisco this past October. After sitting his first few games in a 49ers uniform, Garoppolo led the team to a 5-0 record in his five starts.
He’s now 7-0 as a starter in the NFL, joining Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the only signal caller to accomplish that feat in the Super Bowl era. Ultimately, San Francisco averaged 28.9 points in Garoppolo’s five starts, the final three of which came against eventual playoff teams.
Despite this, some will point to Garoppolo’s small sample size as a way to call this a major risk. Though, the 49ers themselves really have no other option. They acquired Garoppolo to be a franchise quarterback. He played like one. And now, the team is preparing to pay him like one.