The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia made 10 bold NFL predictions this offseason, and two of them involved the San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo must be the favorite to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2021, but fans and the media continue to keep an eye on what’s going on in Houston with Deshaun Watson. After all, if anything can make Kyle Shanahan leave Garoppolo, it could be the idea of ​​adding an exciting playmaker like Watson to his offense.

Kapadia admits there are several things that could happen in Houston that would prevent Watson from being traded. Maybe the two sides reconcile and move on. Maybe the star quarterback decides to go through a bad situation and play for the Texans. Watson could choose to show how serious he is in wanting to go out and finish the season.

Texans’ attempts to reach out to Watson would be ignored. If this continues, it could force Houston to make a tough decision, resulting in the trade of their disgruntled star. Kapadia believes the Miami Dolphins as a destination makes a lot of sense. Much like the Carolina Panthers. However, there is one team he keeps coming back to. Kapadia predicts the 49ers will outbid the others for Watson.

“If you’re Kyle Shanahan, you’ve seen two of the last three seasons go to waste to Jimmy Garoppolo’s injuries,” Kapadia wrote. “Is your best option in the future really to pay Garoppolo $ 25.5 million in the hope of staying healthy in 2021? Shanahan has to wonder what his offense would look like with a more talented quarterback. and more durable like Watson. Could other teams beat an offer that included three first-round picks and Nick Bosa? “

This last part can make members of the Faithful cringe. They would prefer a deal that doesn’t involve giving up one of the team’s best young talents. Watson’s availability would create a bidding war and San Francisco could be forced to use whatever it could to get ahead of the rest. After all, Kapadia believes a deal for Watson could become “the biggest deal in NFL history.”

“His cap reached in 2021 for the 49ers would be only $ 10.54 million and could more easily allow them to bring back left tackle Trent Williams,” Kapadia added. “Watson is under contract for $ 29.3 million per year for the next five seasons. That’s a bargain over the going rate for quarterbacks of his caliber.”

The other prediction concerns what the 49ers might do with Garoppolo, if the team added a quarterback. The most logical destination would be the New England Patriots, where Garoppolo began his career. They have the option of absorbing Garoppolo’s salary.

“It’s possible that no team will want to give up anything of value to Garoppolo, given what he owes him,” Kapadia wrote. “But he doesn’t have any guaranteed money on his deal. If he plays well in 2021, the Patriots can extend him. If he doesn’t, it was a yearlong steal. Belichick agrees to forgo a conditional third round of 2022. choice that turns into a second if Garoppolo reaches certain playing time and performance thresholds in 2021. “

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