NFL free agency: Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly signing with Raiders, reuniting with Josh McDaniels on 3-year deal
When Josh McDaniels got the head-coaching job with the Denver Broncos, he immediately acquired multiple players who had ties to the New England Patriots.
That was more than a decade ago, but not much has changed.
Jimmy Garoppolo, the former Patriots backup when McDaniels was offensive coordinator in New England, is coming to the Las Vegas Raiders to reunite with McDaniels, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini. The deal is reportedly for three years and $67.5 million, including $34 million guaranteed.
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Given former Bill Belichick assistants' infatuation with former Patriots players, that shouldn't be a surprise.
Garoppolo had been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2017, when the Patriots traded him there. He helped the 49ers reach a Super Bowl but injuries and average play caused San Francisco to look elsewhere at quarterback. The Niners traded up to draft Trey Lance, though Garoppolo took back the starting job last season when Lance was injured. Then Garoppolo was injured and Brock Purdy took over as the starter.
A split between the 49ers and Garoppolo has been in the works for a while, though it was delayed a year when Garoppolo was recovering from shoulder surgery last season and the 49ers couldn't find a trade partner.
Garoppolo finally hit free agency and it didn’t take long for McDaniels to latch onto the former Patriot.
The Raiders moved on from Derek Carr after last season, but it's hard to say that Garoppolo is an upgrade. But he does know "The Patriot Way," which McDaniels and most other former New England assistants value tremendously. At least Garoppolo will know McDaniels' offense.
The Raiders start a new chapter with Garoppolo, who will turn 32 years old during the season. They'll find out if the familiarity between McDaniels and Garoppolo leads to some wins.