Should Commanders Trade for Jimmy Garoppolo Despite Surgery?

With Garoppolo set to undergo shoulder surgery, how does the Commanders' QB search change?

Jeremy Brener | Mar 1, 2022

The Washington Commanders are inquiring about adding a quarterback this offseason. One of the biggest names on the market will be the San Francisco 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo.

Jimmy Garoppolo makes a pass vs. Washington

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Washington

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Jimmy Garoppolo attempts to throw the football

But there's only one problem: He's about to have shoulder surgery.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Garoppolo's surgery isn't expected to affect his trade status and the 49ers signal caller is expected to be traded.

But if the Commanders pull the trigger, does his price drop?

Garoppolo played through injuries in January's playoff run that landed the Niners in the NFC Championship Game. But will he be the same post-surgery?

The Commanders face a massive crossroads this offseason in deciding whether to sign a veteran like Garoppolo, draft a rookie such as Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett or Liberty's Malik Willis with the No. 11 pick, or perhaps even stand pat with incumbent starter Taylor Heinicke.

One of the cons in signing a veteran is availability and durability, and among the quarterbacks Washington is considering Garoppolo is the one who has been injured the most compared to Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.

The Commanders have consistently dealt with quarterback injuries over the past several seasons. The last time a Washington quarterback started and ended the season as the starter was Kirk Cousins in 2017.

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Jimmy Garoppolo (left) could team up with head coach Ron Rivera (right) in Washington

Jimmy Garoppolo exits the NFC Championship Game

Jimmy Garoppolo in NFC Championship Game

While the surgery should only keep Garoppolo out until the summer, it should raise a red flag in D.C.

And with all that's happened so far this offseason in Washington, change is the biggest word and the team's biggest need. The question the Commanders need to ask themselves is ... Does Garoppolo's surgery change things for them?

Published Mar 1, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.