The Las Vegas Raiders officially released veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after one season on Wednesday.
The team also cut wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and backup QB Brian Hoyer, saving more than $19 million in salary cap space.
Garoppolo, 32, signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract, with $45 million of it guaranteed, last March.
In February, he was suspended two games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, reportedly for using a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the NFL. The suspension voided $11.25 million in guaranteed salary, per Spotrac.
Before the suspension, the Raiders already had all but decided to part with Garoppolo.
Garoppolo was benched after Josh McDaniels was fired as head coach on Nov. 1, save for a spot appearance in which he had one incomplete pass and a sack in the season finale against the Denver Broncos on Jan. 7.
Garoppolo completed 65.1 percent of his throws for 1,205 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven games in 2023.
In the new season, the Raiders will go with second-year QB Aidan O’Connell, who replaced Garoppolo and started 10 games, or veteran Gardner Minshew, who reportedly agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million fully guaranteed. They also have Anthony Brown, signed to a non-guaranteed reserve/future contract.
Garoppolo won two Super Bowls as Tom Brady’s backup in New England (2014-16) and also played with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-22) before the Raiders. He has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 15,494 yards with 94 TDs and 51 interceptions. In 63 starts (81 total career games), Garoppolo has a 43-20 record.
Renfrow, 28, made the Pro Bowl with 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 but played a diminished role the past two seasons with a combined 61 catches for 585 yards in 27 games.
Tillery, 27, was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019. He played in all 17 games (six starts) for Las Vegas in 2023 and contributed two sacks and 31 tackles.
Hoyer, 38, made one start for the Raiders last season and threw for 129 yards with two interceptions in a 30-12 loss at Chicago in Week 7. He spent parts of eight seasons with New England and has passed for 10,899 yards and 53 touchdowns in 79 games (41 starts) with eight teams since 2009.
–Field Level Media