49ers play-by-play broadcaster: 'Browns do have interest in Jimmy Garoppolo'

The San Francisco 49ers are beginning a new era by permitting agents for veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to seek a trade this summer and also by essentially announcing to anybody who will listen that 2021 rookie Trey Lance will be their new starter for the upcoming season. 

It was reported late Wednesday afternoon that the Cleveland Browns aren't expected to pursue a trade for Garoppolo during training camp or the preseason even though they could be without Deshaun Watson for part or all of the 2022 campaign if he's suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. That story added the Browns believe journeyman backup Jacoby Brissett can "hold down the fort" until Watson returns, assuming the 26-year-old receives a ban. 

It appears not everyone is convinced the Browns aren't shopping for a supposed upgrade over Brissett.

Per Jake Montero of the website for San Francisco radio station KNBR, 49ers play-by-play broadcaster and KNBR host Greg Papa explained on Thursday's edition of the "Papa and Lund" show he believes the Browns are considering making a move for Jimmy G.

"I would say right away, the Cleveland Browns do have interest in Jimmy Garoppolo, there’s no doubt. They are just waiting for what’s going to happen to the guy they gave $230 million fully guaranteed to," Papa remarked. "Deshaun and how many games he gets suspended for, if any, if it’s indefinite, if it’s somewhere in the middle, that’ll impact what the Cleveland Browns will do. But I do not agree with that. I have great sources on this that the Browns have shown interest in Jimmy Garoppolo. 

"They’re not going to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo if Deshaun Watson is not suspended. That’s not going to happen. Deshaun Watson will be their quarterback, Brissett will be their backup. They can say all they want about what level of confidence they have in Jacoby Brissett, but they paid him as a backup, he is a backup player. If Deshaun does get a sizable suspension, then I think they will have interest in Jimmy Garoppolo. Then it’s a question of what’s the compensation, how much of Jimmy’s salary do they want to pay." 

Garoppolo is in the final year of his contract and is set to carry a $26.95 million salary-cap hit and earn a non-guaranteed salary of $24.2 million for 2022. The 30-year-old spent the last handful of months recovering from March shoulder surgery but has reportedly been cleared to begin practicing.