Three Teams That Should Trade for Jimmy Garoppolo Following the Baker Mayfield Trade

1. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns, yes those Cleveland Browns, make the most sense for a Jimmy Garoppolo trade. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell first proposed the idea following the Baker Mayfield trade to Carolina. Initially, I didn’t see the logic behind this, but after doing some digging of my own, it makes all the sense in the world. This, of course, is working under the assumption that Deshaun Watson will be suspended indefinitely, which seems to be the way things are trending. In the event that happens, the Browns won’t have to hit the panic button. Jacoby Brissett signed a deal with the team earlier this offseason to be the primary backup in Cleveland. Brissett proved that he can be serviceable as a starter when he won seven games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. Still, the Browns have Super Bowl aspirations. Would you rather trot out Brissett, or a guy that has started and held a double-digit lead in the Super Bowl?

The Browns still sit at 2x the amount of available cap space that the next closest team has. Taking on Jimmy Garoppolo’s full $24.2 million price tag is something that the Browns could do without any maneuvering whatsoever. After receiving a fifth-round pick, that could become a fourth rounder, general manager Andrew Berry might be more willing to send a middle round pick for the quarterback. The defense is absolutely loaded, and the offensive line is dominant in the run game. Kevin Stefanski is a smart play caller that wouldn’t ask Jimmy G to do anything more than be a steady contributor. It sounds weird on the surface, but once you consider all perspectives, this is the best fit for everyone involved. Niners get rid of his salary and add a pick, the Browns get a starter with 33 career wins that can help them contend in 2022, and Jimmy Garoppolo lands in an ideal spot to succeed. Win-win-win.