The 49ers could have their franchise quarterback locked up to a long-term contract in a matter of days.
That’s what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Monday on KNBR after reporting Sunday the two sides were nearing an agreement.
From our friends at 49ers Web Zone:
“I think it’s getting pretty close to getting done,” Rapoport said on the “Murph & Mac” show. “You know, barring some sort of negotiating snag, I would expect this in a couple of days, pretty close. I don’t think they’re at a point where they’ve reached an agreement, but it sounds like it’s getting there. A multi-year deal, lucrative, big money, top quarterback money. I’m not sure it’s going to be Derek Carr (type money), but I would imagine it’s going to be right around there.
“From what it sounds like too – negotiations are hard – this does not seem like it was a hard one. And I think part of that is because everybody wants the same thing in this case.”
The news of Garoppolo signing early in the offseason could be considered a surprise. Garoppolo might be inclined to see how the quarterback market plays out in March before inking a long-term contract. If that were his route, Garoppolo could see how much Washington’s Kirk Cousins gets if teams bid for his services and base his negotiations with the 49ers off that asking price.
But it appears Garoppolo and San Francisco are working in concert irrespective of what happens with the quarterback shuffle throughout the rest of the NFL. Still, Rapoport expects Garoppolo to become one of the league’s highest-paid signal callers.
“That is my understanding,” he continued. “Now, the Niners do very smart deals, so I’m sure they’ll protect themselves. They can do a lot of things cashflow-wise, guarantee-wise, also giving him the sort of high-end average per year that he would want. So I’m sure it’s going to be a smartly structured deal because they all are in San Francisco.
“It’s also smart because as good as he was, he’s only going to be even better. So, he’s one of those players — like, it’s not a fluke. He’s just great, and lock him up as early as you can. That’s my thought.”
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