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Is Jimmy Garoppolo a viable trade target for the Cleveland Browns?

By Chad Porto

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 7: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers calls an audible during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 31-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 7: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers calls an audible during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 31-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns may be in the market for Jimmy Garoppolo soon.

Baker Mayfield is in Carolina. Deshaun Watson may be staying at home in Texas for an entire season or more. The Cleveland Browns have one viable NFL quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, who is not a playoff quarterback. The Browns have $48 million in cap space currently. If the Browns feel they need another quarterback they have the cap space to go get the only one left on the market, Jimmy Garoppolo.

The problem is, no one has wanted Garoppolo all off-season. It’s partly because he’s not a very good quarterback, he’s a downgrade from both Mayfield and Watson, and it’s also because the 49ers have no leverage in any deals.

Unlike Mayfield and the Browns, who owed him $18 million in any trade or release, the 49ers only owe Garoppolo $1.4 million if they release him from his $26.9 million deal. The Browns are not about to eat $26.9 million in a trade for Garoppolo, nor are they giving up a draft pick to get a guy they can sign for a bargain price if he were to be released.

Why would they? No team is willing to get hosed on a deal like that. Garoppolo is an upgrade over Brissett, sure, but he’s not such an upgrade that you give up just shy of $27 million to go get him.

Now if he’s released, let’s talk.

If and when the San Francisco 49ers release Jimmy Garoppolo, the Cleveland Browns should call

As a long-term option, Jimmy Garoppolo is not the guy. He wasn’t the guy in New England, he wasn’t the guy in San Francisco, and he won’t be the guy in Cleveland. For a year-rental, however? Sure, Garoppolo has more than enough talent to be a stabilizing force with the Browns, assuming Watson gets suspended.

Trading for him, and his salary is a mistake. Even if the 49ers were to half it, or have Garoppolo restructure. None of that would make sense for the Browns. Not when he could be had for pennies on the dollar as a free agent.

Anything north of $6 million for the year for Garoppolo is too much and isn’t worth the money for the quarterback. Yes, he’s a better passer than Brissett but not such a better passer that the Browns should break the bank to get him.

Sign him if he’s released, but don’t trade for him, not unless he’s willing to restructure his contract signicantly.

Next. Where does Baker Mayfield rank all-time among the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks?. dark

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