NFL Rumors: 49ers Won't Deal Garoppolo Unless Return Value 'Overwhelms'

The 49ers are widely expected to take a quarterback with the third pick in Thursday's 2021 NFL draft putting Jimmy Garoppolo's future with the team in doubt.

The 49ers are widely expected to take a quarterback with the third pick in Thursday's NFL draft, though who exactly their selection will be, remains in question. 

Whomever they take, however, will likely still enter next season in the same quarterback room with current starter Jimmy Garoppolo. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team has no plans to trade Garoppolo before the draft unless the value "overwhelms them." According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, multiple teams are expected to contact San Francisco on Thursday about the availability of Garoppolo, but as of Thursday morning, the chances of him being traded are "remote," in the words of one of Schefter's sources.

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When asked earlier this week if Garoppolo would be on the team's roster following the draft, coach Kyle Shanahan took a dark turn. 

"I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday, so I can't guarantee who will be on our roster on Sunday," he said. "So that goes for all of us."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on Thursday that among the teams who could contact San Francisco, the Patriots remain one logical choice. Garoppolo began his career in New England before being traded to the 49ers during the 2017 season. 

Garoppolo currently has a no-trade clause in his contract, potentially limiting suitors who might otherwise be interested in the veteran quarterback. 

The draft gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Check out the latest news and notes from around the NFL in the lead-up to the draft (all times Eastern): 

3:30 p.m. 

• Aaron Rodgers has told some within the Packers organization that he does not want to return to the team. (Adam Schefter, ESPN)

2:45 p.m.

• The Saints have "called just about every team inside the top 15 that would be willing to move its pick," though it's unclear which player they might be targeting. (Albert Breer, The MMQB)
• If the Broncos decide to move on from quarterback Drew Lock, one possible trade destination is the Vikings. Carolina could also be in the mix if they don't draft a quarterback in an early round of the draft. (Albert Breer, The MMQB)
• The Cardinals have been "out there on the scouting trail looking hard" at the cornerback position. The Ravens and Browns could also move up in the 20s depending on cornerback availability. (Albert Breer, The MMQB)
• Tim Tebow recently reached out to the Jaguars and requested a tryout at the tight end position. He recently worked out with their tight end coach, though, no decision has been made about a possible return. (Adam Schefter, ESPN)

2 p.m. 

• The 49ers reached out to the Packers on Wednesday about a possible trade involving Aaron Rodgers, but no formal offer was made and a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that there is a "0% chance" that Rodgers is traded. (Tom Pelissero, NFL Network)

1:45 p.m. 

• The Jaguars are expected to explore a possible trade involving quarterback Gardner Minshew II after the draft. (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
• Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley was retested for COVID-19 on Thursday and tested negative. (Adam Schefter, ESPN)
• Cal offensive tackle Jake Curhan, who is viewed as a potential late-round pick, is off several boards after medical tests revealed a heart issue. If not selected, he still should be a priority free agent. (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)

12:30 p.m. 

• The Falcons like tight end Kyle Pitts and quarterbacks Trey Lance and Justin Fields, but teams have reached out to the Falcons about a possible trade. (Steve Wyche, NFL Network)
• The Seahawks have signed defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, a 2016 first-round pick of the Cardinals, who was last on a roster in 2019. (Field Yates, ESPN)

11:30 a.m.

• The Patriots have explored various draft possibilities by reaching out to teams across the NFL to see who might be most willing to deal. (Mike Reiss, ESPN)
• The Eagles have been active in seeking potential moves to trade up in the draft. It's possible they might be trying to get ahead of Dallas in an effort to draft a top cornerback. (Jeremy Fowler, ESPN)
• The Saints are trying to trade up into the top 10 of Thursday's draft. They currently hold the No. 28 pick. (Jay Glazer, FOX Sports)

9:00 a.m.

• The Saints appear to be the team doing the most groundwork for a potential trade-up in the first round. (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
• The Panthers have picked up the fifth-year option for wide receiver D.J. Moore, but they have not yet done so with quarterback Sam Darnold leaving open the possibility of drafting a quarterback. (Adam Schefter, ESPN)