The Cowboys are reeling after their Week 1 game loss to the Buccaneers. Dallas scored its fewest points in a season opener since 1989 in the 19-3 defeat and also lost its starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, to a fractured thumb in his throwing hand.
Prescott suffered the injury after hitting his hand on two pass attempts late in the fourth quarter. Each time, his hand made contact with that of Shaquil Barrett; the second blow proved costly, as Prescott had to exit the field and was taken to the locker room.
Prescott's injury is expected to sideline him for 6-8 weeks. That means the Cowboys will have to rely on Cooper Rush and Will Grier to carry them at quarterback — if they don't pursue an upgrade at the position.
That is something that the Cowboys faithful would probably like the team to do. However, if Dallas does try to add another quarterback to its roster, it probably won't be Jimmy Garoppolo.
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On the surface, that may sound odd. After all, Garoppolo, the former starter-turned-backup for the 49ers, is the top passer that could be available via trade. He had made it to Super Bowl and two NFC championship games during his career, so he would surely be an upgrade over the duo of Rush and Grier.
So, why doesn't a Garoppolo trade to Dallas make sense? There are a few factors that could potentially make it unappealing for each side.
The 49ers' reported asking price for Jimmy Garoppolo is high
Trade rumors swirled around Garoppolo for most of the 2022 NFL offseason, yet no trade was agreed to by any team. That wasn't necessarily due to a lack of interest in the veteran quarterback. Sure, some teams shied away from the $25.6 million remaining on his one-year deal while others were scared off by the offseason surgery he had on his throwing shoulder.
But another reason San Francisco wasn't able to trade Garoppolo was its asking price in exchange for his services.
MORE: Latest injury update on 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell
Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported in April that Garoppolo could draw some interest on the trade market ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, which was weak at quarterback. However, he acknowledged that one factor was holding the team back in negotiations.
So far, the 49ers’ asking price for Garoppolo has been too high, according to a source.
Just how high was it? In February, Matt Lombardo of Heavy.com reported that the 49ers wanted either a second-round pick for Garoppolo or a third-round pick and a player.
It's unclear whether San Francisco's desired compensation for Garoppolo has changed, but it seems unlikely. After all, the 49ers never traded Jimmy G and he surprisingly remained with the team beyond cut day.
And even if the price for Garoppolo dropped at any point, it likely rose again. Why? Because he signed a restructured contract that will pay him a base of just $7 million in 2022. That makes him more affordable and thus, more valuable to any team hopeful to land his services.
Trey Lance struggled in Week 1
The 49ers made the decision to start Trey Lance during the 2022 NFL season, and it was a sensible one. After all, the team spent the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Lance and seemed confident he would be ready to start this year.
However, Lance played just one year of college football at the FCS level. He was prolific there, throwing for 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions, but he was considered raw coming into the NFL. As such, it may take him time to develop, even if he is on the field as a starter.
San Francisco got a taste of that in Week 1. Lance struggled in his first start of the 2022 season against a Bears team the 49ers were supposed to beat handily. Granted, the game was played in monsoon-like conditions in Chicago, but Lance still struggled in the contest and was outperformed by his fellow second-year quarterback, Justin Fields.
| Player | Comp. % | Pass yards | Pass TDs | INTs | Rush yards | Rating |
| Trey Lance | 46.4 | 164 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 50.3 |
| Justin Fields | 47.1 | 121 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 85.7 |
It's also worth noting that the 49ers brain trust asked some of their veteran players to have Lance's back as he endures some potential bumps in the road in his first year as a starter. That's hardly damning, but it does showcase that the team was at least a bit apprehensive about starting him.
MORE: How Jimmy Garoppolo's return impacts Trey Lance's standing with 49ers
Lance will continue to get opportunities, but Garoppolo gives the 49ers insurance and stability in case Lance's struggles aren't isolated to one game. Garoppolo is a capable starter and San Francisco made the NFC championship game with him as their primary quarterback last season.
And hey, if Lance were to get hurt like Prescott did, the 49ers would still have a chance to be playoff contenders. That would be thanks to the presence of a high-end backup like Garoppolo.
The 49ers won't want to help a potential wild-card competitor
Speaking of contenders, both the 49ers and Cowboys have designs of being one this season. Both Dallas and San Francisco entered the campaign with high expectations after making the playoffs last season. The Cowboys were the prohibitive favorite to win the NFC East while the 49ers were thought to have Super Bowl upside if Lance could have a breakout season.
The Cowboys and 49ers have each lost a bit of their luster after Week 1 defeats, but that won't change the goal of each organization. They still want to make the playoffs and will have a chance to do so in a weakened NFC.
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That said, as the 49ers assess whether their wild-card competition, they could see an opportunity to help effectively eliminate Dallas from contention by keeping Garoppolo. He would be the best quarterback that the Cowboys could land, in all likelihood. As such, the 49ers won't want to throw one of their top competitors a lifeline that could impact their own playoff chances.
So, between that and keeping Garoppolo as insurance, moving the QB anywhere in the NFC doesn't seem likely, at least at this time.
Perhaps if the 49ers taper off or they get a Godfather offer, they could consider dealing Garoppolo within the conference.
But until then, any potential Jimmy G trade would probably have to come from the AFC for the 49ers to truly consider it.
