With SF 49ers DC Robert Saleh on the cusp of becoming the NY Jets HC, a Jimmy Garoppolo-Sam Darnold swap could make sense for both sides.
With the San Francisco 49ers season already over, many of their leading assistant coaches and at least one executive appear on the cusp of jobs with other teams. None have received more attention than 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. After receiving his second interview with the New York Jets, Saleh seems like the favorite to become the head coach of Gang Green.
Saleh will undoubtedly bring some 49ers assistants with him to New York, likely choosing either Mike LaFleur (passing game coordinator) or Mike McDaniel (run game coordinator) to run the team’s offense. If he does, it could open the door for a significant transaction.
The Jets will have at least $70 million in cap space this offseason and the second overall pick in the draft. While fans are frustrated to miss out on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they are in prime position to draft the next best signal-caller. Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson are the two names touted as the second-best QB prospect in this year’s draft. While 2018 first-round pick Sam Darnold could serve as a bridge to a new QB in New York, a more proven veteran option with familiarity in a Shanahan-style system would seem like a better fit.
Of course, the 49ers have a quarterback conundrum of their own. Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard have yet to look like capable starters, and Jimmy Garoppolo has been mired by injuries and some consistent shortcomings on the field. With several pending salary cap decisions, Garoppolo’s $26.9 million cap hit in 2021 creates some questions. While a reasonable salary for a starting quarterback, can the 49ers afford to make such a costly bet on Garoppolo? Then again, identifying viable alternatives may be an even more cumbersome proposition.
Late last year, however, before the 49ers took on the Jets in Week 2, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Darnold. Below is his response:
“I’ve watched him a lot whether it was college or last week’s game… I’m a big fan of Sam’s. He’s a very good player. He’s going to have a very good career in this league. He makes a lot of plays. If you’re not on your stuff, if you let him get comfortable back there, he’ll pick you apart as good as any quarterback. He can throw it very well, and he sees the field extremely well.”
If Shanahan is indeed that high on Darnold, moving Garoppolo to acquire him begins to make a lot of sense.
A swap would cost the Jets a little more than $19 million in cap space, a very reasonable cost for a starter. Garoppolo has consistently received rave reviews for his presence in the locker room. Saleh surely wants to carry a lot of what he helped build in San Francisco to his next job, and players like Garoppolo could do that. Furthermore, his familiarity with the offense could be a great help to a young quarterback like Fields or Wilson.
Plus, without any guaranteed salary remaining in his contract, Garoppolo gives the franchise ample flexibility.
If he bounces back next season, New York could trade him to recoup draft capital. If he’s injured once again or fails to perform, he could be released without adding much dead money to the Jets’ books.
The savings might not be as considerable for the 49ers, but would be quite substantial. They would gain the same $19 million in space but would probably be more obligated to add a proven veteran, like Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, or Tyrod Taylor, to offer primary competition and insurance. Still, even if that required a one-year, $5 million deal, the moves would create more than $14 million in cap savings. Some may prefer Garoppolo to Darnold and Taylor, but $14 million in savings could go a long way towards other parts of the roster.
Darnold’s contract will expire after 2021. Technically, the Jets (or 49ers in this scenario) could exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie-scale contract to retain him for another season. However, that decision will have to be made by May 1st of this year. Darnold’s fifth-year option will be worth roughly $25 million and be fully guaranteed. Without a chance to see him practice or play with the team before then, it’s extremely unlikely the team would make such a move. Instead, the 49ers would have the franchise tag at their disposal to prevent Darnold from leaving if they wanted to keep him around beyond next year.
The cost of creating space now, by moving Garoppolo for Darnold, would end up costing the 49ers more down the line if Darnold were a viable long-term option. That might seem like running in circles but it is precisely what the 49ers need. The salary cap decreases this year due to revenue losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, but it could explode next offseason.
Saleh remains one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the NFL. If he will be leaving the 49ers this year, it seems like no landing spot would be more advantageous to San Francisco than the Jets. He would be in a different conference and create a practical way for the 49ers to acquire a young starting quarterback and gain much-needed cap space.
