Jimmy

Garoppolo

Atkins doesn’t seem impressed with Bennett (who has “fallen victim to a couple of greedy mistakes”) or Ty Simpson (“isn’t going downfield much”) early in camp and suggests that the unsigned Jimmy Garoppolo could just be a phone call away if Simpson isn’t able to win the QB2 job. We’ll see what happens, but Garoppolo lingering as a free agent could keep some upside injury runouts off the table for Simpson this year.

Garafolo adds that Garoppolo “has not decided to retire” and will continue to play. Nothing is imminent and the “right situation” may take an injury to a starter around the league. The 34-year-old had contemplated retirement earlier in the offseason but instead is open to continuing his playing career. Garoppolo is a free agent to keep an eye on as training camp battles and injuries start to unfold.

There is no timeline on that decision, per McVay. Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that Garoppolo was considering retirement, something that makes his slow-developing market make more sense. McVay wanting Garoppolo back makes perfect sense when you consider the alternative is currently Stetson Bennett as Los Angeles’ QB2.

Garoppolo, 34, is the preferred backup for Matthew Stafford and the Rams after he spent the last two seasons serving as the Rams’ QB2. If he opts to continue playing, he will most likely return to the Rams on a one-year deal, but Garoppolo is reportedly considering hanging things up. The former second-round pick has started 64 games in his career, with 55 of those starts coming with the 49ers. He’s attempted just 41 passes over the last two seasons and did not attempt a pass in 2025.

In other words, like last year, expect Stafford to not be given all of the reps in training camp or (likely any of them) in preseason. This is mentioned as Barshop notes that the Rams have yet to address backup quarterback. Kirk Cousins, who was mentioned as a potential backup option, signed with the Raiders late last week. McVay said at the meetings that Jimmy Garoppolo’s return is “less likely than likely.” As things currently stand, Stetson Bennett would be getting a lot of training camp reps with the 1s. We expect there’ll be a different answer than that when it’s actually August, but that’s where things stand now.

Garoppolo was linked to the Dolphins and Cardinals in early March, but both teams have brought new quarterbacks aboard since then. Per Atkins, the Rams’ “sights for a backup” have refocused on Garoppolo, now that the Raiders have signed QB Kirk Cousins. The Rams would reportedly “really would like an experienced former starter in that role.” Garoppolo spent the last two seasons in said role and turns 35 in November.

McVay said Garoppolo is “working through his process right now,” as the veteran QB remains unsigned nearly a month into free agency. McVay added that Garoppolo’s return “feels less likely than likely.” Cousins and McVay spent five seasons together in Washington, with McVay serving as Cousins’ offensive coordinator for three of those seasons. As Cousins seems more and more unlikely to land a starting job before the start of this season, a reunion with McVay in Los Angeles as Matthew Stafford’s backup could make a ton of sense for both sides, and give the Rams two solid veteran options at the position.

From the outside, it’s been a very puzzling free agency for Garoppolo. He was a rumored fit in Arizona and Miami, and it seemed like it was assumed that he’d return to the Rams when the Cardinals inked Gardner Minshew. But it’s been weeks since then and there’s been no clarity on his status. It sure doesn’t seem like there are better options for him out there than returning as the Rams backup — perhaps the Cardinals are considering trading Jacoby Brissett? — but the report of a fluid market suggests that maybe there are more teams interested than we know about.

Per Jackson, the Dolphins are interested in adding a veteran quarterback who will “be a good sport about being No. 2" behind Quinn Ewers if that’s how it plays out. He also lays out that they are interested in Malik Willis at “a certain unknown price point.” It sounds like the Dolphins are going to have a brutal year of taking their medicine on the Tua Tagovailoa contract. An Ewers/Garoppolo quarterback competition would be a tough scene.

New head coach Mike LaFleur is apparently close enough to Garoppolo to get a “that’s his guy” from a league source. We’re not sure that a 35-year-old who has started one game in the last two seasons and was picked off nine times in 169 dropbacks in 2023 is the right addition for the state of the Cardinals quarterback room. But, on the other hand, it’s LaFleur’s guy, and he did just defend hiring Nathaniel Hackett.