49ers extend Jimmy Garoppolo to five-year $137.5 million deal

A new era has officially begun with the San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has agreed to a five-year extension worth $137.5 million. It’s the biggest contract in NFL history in terms of the average-per-year basis.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo first reported the deal on Thursday afternoon, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter says while the deal is not official it’s headed in the right direction.

New England traded Garoppolo to San Francisco mid-season for a second-round pick, which will be either the 41st or 43rd pick depending on how the coin flip breaks a tie with the Oakland Raiders. That coin flip will occur during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next month.

Drafted with the 62nd overall pick by the Patriots in 2014 out of Eastern Illinois, Garoppolo was viewed as the quarterback of the future with Tom Brady approaching his 40’s. With Brady continuing to have MVP-caliber seasons it became apparent Garoppolo was not the future in Foxborough.

Garoppolo has appeared in just 23 games through his four NFL seasons, and did not get his first start until 2016 when Brady was suspended four games for Deflategate. In his seven career starts between the Patriots and 49ers Garoppolo is 7-0 with 12 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 99.7% QBR.

According to Spotrac, San Francisco entered the offseason with nearly $111 in salary cap space.  With Garoppolo now secured as their franchise quarterback, general manager John Lynch can now turn to the 17 players slated to become free agents, including Carlos Hyde and Eric Reid.

Holding either the 9th or 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft San Francisco is expected to look at a player on defense. Adding a cornerback or pass rusher would be at the top of Lynch’s draft board.

While Garoppolo’s contract is among the richest in NFL history his deal is expected to be surpassed by quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason in free agency.