49ers to get into Garropolo sweepstakes?? … Draft aside, it looks like New England back-up QB Jimmy Garoppolo will be the hottest player this off-season. Both Cleveland and Chicago, which have the 1st and third picks respectively at the 2017 draft, and now San Francisco appears to be on the verge of throwing their collective hats in the ring. Indeed, incoming 49ers’ head coach, who will spend the rest of the weekend running Atlanta’s offense in tomorrow’s Super Bowl, indicated when asked at a presser this week that he had really liked Garoppolo when he scouted him for the 2013 draft. According to Shanahan, Garoppolo “was a very good thrower as well as tough guy, who kept his eyes down the field, could get rid of the ball fast. Really liked the person.” The 49ers are expected to be in the market for a QB as incumbent starter Colin Kaepernick has all but guaranteed that he will opt out of his contract once the opt-out period begins March 2nd. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots are believed to be thinking of 1st and 4th round picks as to where they’d like to see the bidding begin for Garoppolo’s services. Stay tuned.
