Jimmy Garoppolo’s introductory press conference with the Raiders was postponed without reason, but this doesn’t appear to be a Carlos Correa situation.
Garoppolo’s three year contract worth up to $72.5 million with Las Vegas was finalized on Friday, per a report by The Athletic. The 31-year-old quarterback is expected to start for the Raiders next year after spending the past six years of his career with the 49ers.
Garoppolo was expected to leave San Francisco last offseason and indicated as much when he gave a farewell press conference — “It’s been a hell of a ride,” he said — when the 49ers got bounced from the playoffs. But no trade materialized, and Garoppolo ended up back with the team as Trey Lance’s backup.
When Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, Garoppolo was thrust back into action. The veteran threw for 2,437 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games before getting injured himself.
Garoppolo’s foot injury was initially believed to be season-ending, but it was later reported that the ailment was less severe than initially thought. Garoppolo in fact never returned to the field, even after third stringer Brock Purdy went down.
In his career, Garoppolo’s teams have a 40-17 record when he plays — with all but two of the games coming with San Francisco. The 49ers made at least the NFC Championship in every year he stayed healthy.
But health has been a concern. The quarterback played six games in 2017, three in 2018 and six in 2020. When The Athletic asked a Raiders spokesperson if the press conference’s postponement had anything to do with an issue with Garoppolo’s physical exam, the team declined to comment. The press conference was unofficially scheduled for Thursday.
But the deal, nevertheless, reportedly has gone through. According to The Athletic, Garoppolo’s contract includes $45 million in guarantees that spring from his signing bonus, 2023 salary, 2024 roster bonus and an injury clause.