In just five starts with the 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo has already started turning heads around the league. In an interview with Murph & Mac from radio row in Minneapolis on Thursday morning, Lions wide receiver Golden Tate heaped praise on San Francisco’s new signal caller, a good sign for a 49ers team looking to entice big name free agents this offseason.
“It sounds like the 49ers have found gold in big G over there,” Tate said enthusiastically. “I’m kind of a fan. The guy shows up not knowing a lick about the playbook and goes what, 5-0? 6-0? Let’s go.”
Does he think other receivers will want to play with Garoppolo in SF?
“Yeah, yeah, once their contracts are done,” Tate said. “I have one more year.”
“My brother lives out in the Bay and I live in San Diego so I know about the Cali life…I also know about those taxes.”
Tate, 29, will become a free agent in 2019, and is coming off another stellar season with the Detroit Lions, finishing with 92 catches, 1,003 yards, and was ranked as the 7th best receiver in the NFL last year according to Pro Football Focus. Tate has had three 1,000 yard seasons the past four years, and made his only Pro Bowl in 2014.
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Tate’s thoughts on Jimmy G, skip to 2:30.