Jimmy Garoppolo has accepted a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Raiders, as confirmed by a source familiar with the arrangement to The Associated Press on Monday. The agreement includes $34 million in guaranteed money, the individual stated. The transaction cannot be made official until Wednesday.
Ever since Josh McDaniels made the decision to bench Derek Carr, the Raiders have been rumored to be interested in acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo was a backup to Tom Brady for the Patriots starting in 2014 and was then traded to the 49ers in 2017 and became the starter. He had success with San Francisco, going 38-17 and led the team to two NFC Championship games, as well as a Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
Carr, the Raiders’ all-time leading passer with 35,222 yards and 217 touchdown passes, has since signed with the New Orleans Saints.
At the age of 31, Jimmy Garoppolo has experienced multiple injuries including a knee injury that caused him to miss all of the 2018 season, as well as ankle injuries that caused him to miss eight games in 2020. The San Francisco 49ers had planned to trade Garoppolo and start Trey Lance (who was acquired with three 1st round draft picks) as the starter. However, due to Garoppolo undergoing shoulder surgery, he was re-signed to a reduced deal. When Lance was injured a couple games into the season, Garoppolo then returned as the starter. He had a very successful season with 16 touchdown passes and only 4 interceptions in the 10 games he played, before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Brock Purdy, the last player picked in last year’s draft, stepped up and steered the Niners to the NFC title showdown, where they ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Eagles. Purdy experienced a hurt elbow in the beginning of the contest and underwent surgery recently, but as soon as his rehabilitation is complete, the Niners will have two potential starters—Purdy and Lance—on their roster.
Garoppolo goes to a Raiders team that performed poorly last season, but their offense includes wideouts Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, in addition to tight end Darren Waller. Las Vegas has also applied the franchise tag to running back Josh Jacobs, who was the NFL’s leading rusher a season ago.
The Raiders, with the seventh pick in the draft, have the potential to select a quarterback or wait until later rounds. With the expected backup, Jarrett Stidham, signing with the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas has $27.4 million in cap space due to restructuring Maxx Crosby’s contract and freeing up $7.5 million. The Raiders have additional needs on offense, particularly the offensive line, and across the defensive side.
Read more: Jamie Lee Curtis Makes History with Oscar Win: ‘I Just Won an Oscar!’
