Here’s something new: There's new speculation that Jimmy Garoppolo’s spot with the 49ers is solid for at least a couple more seasons.
One day after reports that the 49ers are not interested in pursuing free-agent quarterback Tom Brady, another quarterback who has been linked to San Francisco signed a two-year contract extension with his current club.
On Monday, the agent for quarterback Kirk Cousins announced that his client signed a two-year contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.
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That deal, which keep Cousins under contract to the Vikings through the 2022 season, should bring an end to the chatter that if Garoppolo falls short of expectations this season, the 49ers will replace him with Cousins.
Coach Kyle Shanahan was Cousins’ first offensive coordinator in the league. It is no secret that the 49ers envisioned signing Cousins as a free agent in 2018. Then, the 49ers landed Garoppolo in a 2017 midseason trade with the New England Patriots, and that ended that.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Cousins’ new deal will pay him $66 million over the final two years of the deal.
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Garoppolo is signed through the 2022 season. He performed well in his first full season as a starter in 2019, completing 69.1 percent of his pass attempts for 3,978 yards, with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Garoppolo’s passer rating for the season was 102.0.
The 49ers defeated the Vikings, 27-10, in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. Cousins completed 21 of 29 passes for 172 yards with one touchdown and one interception. In that game, Garoppolo was 11 of 19 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception.