Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Ideas 49ers Must Pursue from Cowboys After Dak Prescott Injury
The Jimmy Garoppolo trade speculation did not take much time off between the end of the preseason and the start of the NFL regular season.
And the thumb injury suffered by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 1 has opened up a potential new trade partner for the San Francisco 49ers.
Garoppolo has better career numbers than backup Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush, but the 49ers may need the 30-year-old on call in case Trey Lance does not perform up to the standards of an NFL starting signal-caller.
San Francisco can't judge Lance off his Week 1 performance since it occurred in awful conditions in Chicago. He will have a better chance to prove his worth in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers' best-case in-season scenario may be for Lance to develop into a true starter and for another trade partner to emerge for Garoppolo so that the team can either replenish depth at another position or add another draft pick or two for 2023.
San Francisco may not receive the most prized draft picks in return from Dallas or another suitor, but it could ask for something in return for Garoppolo if the right situation comes to fruition.
Trade Garoppolo for Draft Picks
An exchange with the Cowboys for draft picks seems like the most likely scenario if the 49ers did enter trade talks with the NFC East side.
San Francisco will not be able to replace its first-round pick that belongs to the Miami Dolphins, but it could add to the Day 2 or 3 pick totals.
The potential haul of draft picks in return for Garoppolo may depend on how desperate the Cowboys are to improve their quarterback situation.
Dallas displayed little promise on offense with Prescott in the pocket in its Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Cowboys were marred by offensive-line struggles and the lack of quality wide receivers to catch balls from Prescott, with Michael Gallup and Jaden Tolbert both inactive on Sunday.
Cooper Rush could face the same problems in Week 2 and beyond.
How the 28-year-old manages the flaws in the Dallas offense could determine whether the team wants to make a deal for Garoppolo to serve as a stopgap starter and then backup to Prescott.
San Francisco could hold some leverage in that situation because Dallas can't avoid a catastrophic start. The 49ers might be able to milk a third-round pick out of the Cowboys or a pair of Day 3 selections.
However, Dallas may be willing to hold off on a trade because Prescott is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Prescott's precise timetable for a return won't be determined for a few weeks, but even if he heals fast, the Cowboys may be in a situation in September where they need to add a quality quarterback in Garoppolo.
Deal Garoppolo for Players
Dallas wasn't the only team that suffered a significant injury blow in Week 1.
The 49ers placed Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve on Tuesday because of a knee injury he suffered against the Chicago Bears.
Jeff Wilson Jr., Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason are the running backs left on the San Francisco roster as of Wednesday morning.
The Niners will likely scour the free-agent market to sign a veteran player to provide Wilson with help leading the backfield, but they could also try to take one from Dallas.
It seems unlikely the 49ers would land Tony Pollard in any trade scenario, but they have to at least ask for him if any trade discussions for Garoppolo are initiated by the Cowboys.
San Francisco could also look to the Dallas secondary for a player in return for the quarterback. It is short-handed with defensive back Jimmie Ward on the injured reserve.
The 49ers could ask for one of Dallas' secondary reserves and a late-round draft pick for Garoppolo, thus filling an immediate need and not letting the backup QB walk for free.
No Trade
San Francisco may not entertain any potential trade suitors for Garoppolo because of its own quarterback situation.
Trey Lance was unable to put in a convincing performance in Week 1 because of the ugly weather conditions in Chicago.
The 22-year-old has an opportunity to shine at home in Week 2 against the Seahawks, though. That game should give the 49ers a better idea of what the 2021 first-round pick can do inside the offense.
If San Francisco is not convinced by Lance in Week 2 and beyond, it could quickly turn to Garoppolo, who is one of the best backups in the NFL.
The 49ers could hold on to the veteran as a reliable backup ready to take over in case the North Dakota State product loses form or gets injured.
San Francisco has one of the best insurance policies at quarterback right now, and it may not be willing to lose that just because one franchise signal-caller is injured.