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The 49ers season ended on Sunday after losing to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. It also marked the end of the Jimmy Garoppolo era, as the 49ers plan to build their future around Trey Lance who they drafted at third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, Garoppolo's agent Don Yee is already working on a trade partner with the 49ers.
Could the Steelers be a possible trade partner with the 49ers? Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports has the Steelers listed as a favorite for Garoppolo along with the Broncos, Buccaneers, Jets, Saints, Texans and Washington.
"They need a long-term answer after Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, but even if they spend an early pick at QB, Garoppolo would make for a logical stopgap, considering Mike Tomlin is always coaching for the playoffs and has the pieces to lean on the ground and defense moving forward," Benjamin wrote.
Garoppolo has a track record of being a winner, but he's certainly not an elite quarterback. That was evident during the playoffs. He'll look impressive here and there but is way too inconsistent. He'll definitely be a better option than Mason Rudolph, but is he worth giving up a second-round pick? He's also due over $25 million in 2022. That's a lot of money and draft capital to give up for a bridge quarterback.
Benjamin makes a good point that Tomlin is always coaching for the playoffs, and it's been reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports several times that Tomlin is interested in a veteran quarterback and not starting all over with a rookie. I just don't know if the Steelers would want to give up a second-round pick, especially when they have so many needs elsewhere than quarterback.
According to Pro Football Focus Bet, Garoppolo is at +300 to be the next quarterback for the Steelers.