Is Jimmy Garoppolo worth $25M a year? Assessing QB market for unrestricted free agents

With the QB dominos starting to fall into place, Jimmy Garoppolo is a veteran free agent looking to get paid. According to NFL insider Albert Breer, Garoppolo is seeking a contract worth more than $25 million per year in free agency.

Last season, he played on a one-year, $6.5 million fully guaranteed contract. The 49ers brought him back to be the back-up QB for Trey Lance.

He became the 49ers' starting QB after Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Garoppolo had one of the best seasons of his career, compiling a 7-3 record and throwing for the second-highest passer rating (103) in his career. His season was cut short due to a Lisfranc injury suffered during the team's Week 13 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

In his career, Garoppolo has gone 40-17 as a starting quarterback, throwing for over 14,000 yards, 87 touchdowns with a passer rating of 99.6. He's led the 49ers to the postseason three times, including an appearance at Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

At age 31, injuries are starting to become a problem for the quarterback. He has benefited from playing with one of the best defenses in the NFL over the past few seasons.

Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy replaced Garrapollo as the team's starting QB and immediately excelled in the role. He led the 49ers to the NFC Championship, but suffered a torn UCL in the 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Other free agent QBs such as Derek Carr, Geno Smith, and Daniel Jones secured deals worth an average annual value of atleast $30 million a season. Garoppolo will unlikely receive a contract in that range. If he were to earn an average annual value of $25 million, he would be tied for 16th among NFL quarterbacks.

He started last season as a backup after signing a $6.5 million deal with incentives,. He isn't really viewed as a quarterback that can lead a team to a Super Bowl. Garoppolo will likely receive interest to serve as a quality backup. Even if he is viewed as a starter, it will be hard to envision him getting paid north of $25 million a season.

Who are the best free agent QB's available this off-season?

Washington Commanders v San Francisco 49ers

Garoppolo is one of the best available free agent quarterbacks.

Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, Gardner Minshew, Teddy Bridgewater, and Jacoby Brissett highlight the list of free agent quarterbacks. None of these QBs are expected to become starters with their new teams. Barring something unexpected, these QBs will likely receive cheaper "prove it" deals with less term.

The biggest free-agent quarterback, Derek Carr, already signed with the Saints last week. The other two big free agents, Geno Smith and Daniel Jones, each re-signed with their respective teams. Tom Brady was slated to hit free agency before announcing his retirement earlier this offseason.