Jimmy Garoppolo is available this offseason as a top free agent quarterback and there could be at least three potential suitors for the signal-caller’s services.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said during a TV appearance Wednesday that he expects the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers to have interest in the veteran signal-caller.

Running through Rap Sheet’s candidates, the Raiders are in the market for a new quarterback after cutting Derek Carr, who signed with the Saints this week. The Texans need a quarterback, too, and hold the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft. They could try to add a highly-regarded prospect in the first round while using Garoppolo as a sort of transition signal-caller. Carolina has Matt Corral and Jacob Eason under contract and are picking ninth in the draft. They could also have interest in re-signing Sam Darnold, though the triumverate of Corral/Eason/Darnold has little appeal.

Garoppolo has been with the 49ers since he was traded over from the Patriots in 2017. He has worked up a 38-17 record as the team’s starter, but his limitations ultimately led to the team’s decision to trade up for Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Garoppolo has ties to both the Raiders and Texans. Raiders GM Dave Ziegler and HC Josh McDaniels were with the Patriots concurrent to Garoppolo, while new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik were with Garoppolo in San Francisco. Houston GM Nick Caserio was the Patriots’ GM when the team drafted Garoppolo.

Garoppolo may not be Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson or even Derek Carr, but appeals as a stop-gap option for a rebuilding organization.

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