49ers, Garoppolo ink record-breaking 5-year contract

The San Francisco 49ers have secured their franchise quarterback as the team has reportedly agreed to terms with Jimmy Garoppolo on Thursday.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the deal is worth a record-breaking $137.5 million over five years and will make Garoppolo the highest paid player in NFL history.

It has also been reported by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area that Garoppolo’s contract also includes $74 million in guaranteed money which also sets an NFL record for guarantees.

In the three-and-a-half years spent in New England (2014-2017) Garoppolo made just two starts. Both coming while Tom Brady served a four-game suspension in 2016 for the infamous “DeflateGate” scandal.

While both starts resulted in wins, Garoppolo’s true potential was not unveiled until the 26-year-old landed in San Francisco by way of a trade with New England midway through the 2017 season.

In five starts for San Francisco, Garoppolo took the 49ers on a five-game winning streak to end the season on a high note, becoming one of the hottest football teams in the league.

Over the course of those five games, Garoppolo threw for 1,542 yards and seven touchdowns while turning heads across the league in the process.

Before the arrival of Garoppolo, the 49ers had seen a revolving door of quarterbacks as five different quarterbacks made starts for San Francisco over the course of two-and-a-half seasons.

Although the deal isn’t official yet, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, inking Garoppolo to a long-term deal, the 49ers will finally regain stability under center, something the team hasn’t had since 2014.

Also, by securing Garoppolo before NFL free agency begins, the 49ers can not focus on acquiring the necessary pieces that the quarterback will need if the team hopes to improve on a 6-10 season from 2017. Likely, offensive line additions and potential big-name receiver are on the 49ers’ — and Garoppolo’s — wish list.