The revised deal guarantees Garoppolo $6.5 million for this season, according to one of those people. It contains per-game roster bonuses and incentives based on playing time that could push its value to close to $16 million. Before the restructuring, Garoppolo was to have made $25.6 million on the final season of his contract.
It appeared throughout the offseason that Garoppolo, 30, would be headed to his third NFL team after stints with the New England Patriots and the 49ers. San Francisco committed to making Lance its starter in his second season, and it granted Garoppolo’s representatives permission to seek a trade.
But Garoppolo’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, his previously cumbersome salary and the moves other teams had made by the time the quarterback was cleared to resume throwing in late June complicated those efforts. Most recently, there was speculation that the Cleveland Browns might make a deal for Garoppolo. Instead, they have resolved to use backup Jacoby Brissett as their starter while Deshaun Watson serves his 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Garoppolo was in training camp with the 49ers but didn’t participate in practices or team meetings, instead working out on his own as he and the team waited for a trade that didn’t materialize. It remains possible that the 49ers could send Garoppolo elsewhere by the Nov. 1 trade deadline. But his contract contains a no-trade clause that would allow him to veto any proposed deal not to his liking.
He is eligible for unrestricted free agency after the season, and the contract contains a provision prohibiting the 49ers from using the franchise player tag on him.
Garoppolo retained the 49ers’ starting job last season and kept Lance on the sideline as a rookie, waiting for his opportunity. But it was clear after the 49ers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game that the team was likely to turn to Lance as the starter for the 2022 season.
Garoppolo has been adept at winning games during his NFL career. He has made 47 regular season starts for the Patriots and 49ers, and his teams have won 33 of those games. The 49ers have gone 31-14 in regular season play with Garoppolo as their starter. They played in two of the past three NFC title games, advancing to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But some questioned whether the 49ers were winning games because of Garoppolo or despite him. He has made ill-timed mistakes and has thrown 38 interceptions to go with 71 career touchdown passes. He had 12 interceptions and 20 touchdown passes last season.
The 49ers traded up for the No. 3 selection in last year’s draft and used it on Lance rather than on Mac Jones, the 15th pick who helped the Patriots to the playoffs last season as a rookie starter.
Garoppolo has spent 4½ seasons with the 49ers after 3½ seasons as the understudy to Tom Brady with the Patriots. The Patriots traded Garoppolo to the 49ers in October 2017.