While Deebo Samuel seeks a trade, Jimmy Garoppolo praised what he's meant to the 49ers in his first comments to the media this offseason.
Jimmy Garoppolo, with his trade prospects stalled by shoulder surgery, emerged Thursday to speak up about teammate Deebo Samuel’s suddenly dramatic plight.
A day after Samuel went public with a trade request, Garoppolo gave a glowing recommendation about his still-teammate on the 49ers.
“I don’t know the exact, what’s going on behind the scenes what the reasons are for everything,” Garoppolo said on Sirius XM NFL Radio. “But what they’d be getting in Deebo is one of the best players I’ve ever played with, one of the best football players, one of the best guys I’ve ever played with.
“I’ve been with Deebo since he was a rookie, so I’ve seen how he’s evolved and grow. The way he sets the tone though for us — in practice, in the game, in the meeting room, whatever it is — the dude, he puts his heart into it.”
Samuel, in his third season, earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a receiving and rushing threat for the 49ers, who reached the NFC Championship Game largely behind him as a catalyst — and with Garoppolo starting at quarterback in what many expect was his final act with the team.
"I knew going into the surgery what it was going to take to get the shoulder back right, but we'll be throwing here soon."#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo joined us to talk about his health, his future, and about Deebo Samuel.
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— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 21, 2022
“You have to appreciate a guy like that, a teammate willing to put it all on the line for you,” Garoppolo said. “However this thing works out for him, he deserves his money. He’s going to get it one way or another.
“I just wish the best for him. He’s all-time and I just really appreciate him, just as a friend.”
THE TRADE MARKET
Could Garoppolo and Samuel be packaged in a deal? Which will get traded first? Will the 49ers keep both or one of them?
A lot of questions, for sure, and next week’s draft could lead to answers, or else the next check-in date is late July as training camp begins.
NFL general managers are surely checking in with the 49ers on the prospects of a trade for Samuel, and New York Jets’ Joe Douglas was asked about that Thursday.
“Can’t get into specifics when it comes a player that’s not on our roster. If the right opportunity presents itself, we are going to be aggressive,” Douglas told reporters, according to Newsday’s Bob Glauber.
Both Samuel and Garoppolo are under contract with the 49ers for one more season. Neither is expected to stick under their current terms, however.
Samuel is eligible for the first time for a contract extension, and the market rate for wide receivers ballooned this spring with deals for Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins), Davonte Adams (Las Vegas Raiders), Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills) and Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars).
Samuel confirmed to an ESPN reporter Wednesday that he is seeking a trade, and the NFL Network confirmed that while suggesting Samuel was unhappy with his role as a part-time running back and wanted to focus on being a wide receiver.
“He steps up in the big moments, and the moment is never too big for him,” Garoppolo said in a separate interview on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio. “Look at crunch time in a game, there were a lot of plays going to Deebo. The dude was getting the rock in his hands. Run or pass, just get the ball in his hands and he’s going to do something with it.
“He was a tone setter for us. When we’d do 1-on-1s in camp, he’d be the first one up to set the tone. On top of that, he’s a good dude, love being around him. He’s one of a kind.”
GAROPPOLO’S STATUS
Garoppolo, meanwhile, saw his trade prospects halt via a combination of surprise shoulder surgery last month as well as a wild carousel in which other teams’ filled their quarterbacks spots other ways than with him.
Asked by SiriusXM host Adam Schein on where he’ll call home in 2022, Garoppolo responded: “Uh, I don’t know, honestly. There are a couple of different scenarios that played out. I think the shoulder is going to be a big part of it.”
Garoppolo’s separate interviews on SiriusXM Radio were part of his fourth annual appearance, with his father, Tony, to promote SkillsUSA and Klein Tools.
“As this comes along, more and more will start to happen,” Garoppolo continued. “I’m a big believer in staying in the moment, especially when you’re dealing with rehab. Every day, it’s a fight. You’re trying to get just a little bit better each day. It keeps you focused on where you’re at right now.
“Whatever happens in the future, it will all take care of itself,” Garoppolo added. “I know it will work out one way or another. But right now I’m just focused on the shoulder and getting this thing right.”
General manager John Lynch suggested at last month’s owners meeting that the 49ers were close to trading Garoppolo before learning of his plans to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder.
GAROPPOLO’S SHOULDER
“I’m not where I want to be yet. The shoulder surgery, obviously, went well. Rehab has been going great,” Garoppolo told SiriusXM in his first media interview this offseason. “But it’s a process. I knew going into the surgery what it was going to take to get the shoulder back right.
“We’ll be trowing here soon. I just have to keep going in the right direction. It’s a long offseason. It’s already been crazy with all the trades, guys going to different teams, whatever it is.
“I’m just going to let the chips fall where they may, keep working my (butt) off, and when you do that, good things will happen to you.
“I’ll definitely be ready. to what degree, we don’t really know that yet. We haven’t even started throwing yet. We’ve got a little ways to go. But it’s feeling good right now. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.”
Neither Garoppolo nor Samuel are at the 49ers’ headquarters where the voluntary offseason program began Tuesday.
THE INJURY AND 2021 SEASON
Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed surgery on Garoppolo’s right shoulder March 8, repairing damage believed to have happened in the 49ers’ wild-card playoff win at Dallas. Garoppolo did not miss a snap in that or the ensuing two games at the Green Bay Packers and then the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
“The timing, it was tough. We made a late playoff run and everything. That kind of delayed it,” Garoppolo said. “I knew something was messed up in there, didn’t know to what degree it was.
“I just kept playing on it, so it got worse and worse. By the end of the year, I was all, ‘We’ve got to do something about this, get this thing back right.’ I’m glad we did it. Rehab’s been going well. I’ve been out in Los Angeles for a while taking care of that. I’m pretty happy with where it’s at.
“As far as throwing goes, we’ll assess that more in summer time. I haven’t even picked up a ball yet. It’s small steps with this. But things are definitely going in the right direction so I’m pretty happy right now.”
Garoppolo missed 2 1/2 games due to injury last season, including an October loss at Arizona because of a calf injury. Rookie Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall draft pick last year, started that game, as well as the 49ers’ home finale while Garoppolo sat out with a sprained right thumb.
“It was different than anything I’ve experienced in sports. We got through it,” Garoppolo said of last season’s dramas. “I say this in all honesty, it was one of the most fun years I’ve been a part of. The group we had, it was a cool group, a lot of unique individuals, some different personalities coming together.
“It made for a great year. We came up short, and it always sucks when you do. But there are a lot of memories I’ll take with me. We fought through a lot of stuff, on the field and off the field, but it was all worth it and I wouldn’t change any bit of it.”
Garoppolo may have been on good terms with Lance but that didn’t mean it was a good situation.
“Trey’s really cool. He was down to earth, didn’t come in entitled or anything like that. Just was a normal guy and I appreciate him for that,” Garoppolo said. “I don’t know, it was a strange year. I don’t know if I wish that for anybody. It worked out. We’re here now.”
