Garoppolo Now Highest-Paid Player in NFL After Signing Contract

By Adam Stites

The San Francisco 49ers are all in on Jimmy Garoppolo, making the quarterback the highest-paid player in the NFL on Thursday with a five-year, $137.5 million deal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Garoppolo, 26, was in the final year of his rookie contract when he was traded by the New England Patriots in October to the 49ers for a second-round draft pick. After spending time on the sideline, Garoppolo took over as a starter for the last five games of the year and led the 49ers to a 5-0 record over the span with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

Still, a record-breaking contract is a significant investment in a player with just seven career starts and 12 touchdowns over four years.

The $27.5 million per year average tops the $27 million average that Matthew Stafford received in a new contract extension from the Detroit Lions in 2017, but will almost certainly be topped by whatever contract is given to Kirk Cousins in free agency and a deal that Aaron Rodgers is expected to get from the Green Bay Packers sometime during the 2018 offseason.

It was a deal that Garoppolo’s play on the field to end the 2017 season warranted and one the 49ers essentially had to pay if they truly believed he’s the quarterback of the team’s future.

Stafford received $92 million guaranteed from Detroit, but San Francisco was a tad more cautious with their still relatively unproven, but extremely promising young quarterback. But according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Garoppolo still got $74 million guaranteed — the third-most ever behind Stafford and the $87 million given to Andrew Luck.

The 49ers are clearly pushing their chips into the middle of the table and are all in on their 26-year-old quarterback.