Jimmy Garoppolo knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two.
The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback believes good things are ahead for ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance following Friday’s trade that sent the former first-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys.
“Excited for Trey. Just a new opportunity for him,” Garoppolo told NFL Network. “Things didn’t work out in San Francisco for whatever reasons, but glad that he gets another shot, man. This league’s all about opportunities, and when you get a fresh one like that, you’ve just got to take advantage of it.
“Everyone has their own path and everything like that. It’s never going to be easy, but it’s how you come out the other end of it. So I’m always excited for him, man. He’s a brother of mine. Always pulling for him.”
Garoppolo, 31, understands what it’s like to start over because he’s already done it twice.
The first time came when the New England Patriots traded the one-time Tom Brady successor-in-waiting to the 49ers in 2017.
Then came Garoppolo’s three-year, $72.75 million contract he signed in March with the Raiders.
Before heading to Vegas, though, Garoppolo had two seasons to work alongside Lance in San Francisco.
As far as Garoppolo is concerned, the sky’s the limit for Lance.
“Trey’s a brother of mine, man, so like I said before, I’m always pulling for him,” Garoppolo said. “I think he’s got a bright future in this league. Dude’s got talent. Just got to get him out there.”
Garoppolo’s comments follow a recent conversation with the San Francisco Chronicle, when he admitted Lance’s arrival as the heir apparent for the 49ers was “real awkward.”
“You’re always gonna be dealt a hard hand at some point, and you’ve just got to make the best of it, and that’s what I’ve tried to do. That was a hard time,” Lance said.
“But I had some good people around me to lean on. The brothers in the locker room, those guys played a big role. I don’t think the fans always saw all that stuff, but those guys really picked me up when I was down sometimes.”
Lance, 23, became the odd man out this time around when former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold won the 49ers’ backup quarterback competition.
With Darnold locked in behind starter Brock Purdy, San Francisco decided to move on from Lance, who was the No. 3 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 49ers gave up three first-round picks to move up and select Lance.
But all they got last week from the Cowboys for Lance was a fourth-round pick next year.