Jimmy Garoppolo, possible target for Panthers, to undergo shoulder surgery

Whether you like it or not, the Carolina Panthers have been repeatedly linked to Jimmy Garoppolo—even before the offseason began. But could an impending setback erase that connection?

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback (for the time being) will undergo shoulder surgery. The procedure is expected to keep the 30-year-old out of commission into the summer.

49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to soon undergo shoulder surgery that would sideline him until this summer, sources tell ESPN. It is not expected to impact his trade status and Garoppolo still is likely to be traded this month, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2022

Apparently, however, this unfortunate development won’t alter his “trade status,” as noted by Schefter. In fact, Garoppolo—who is expected to resume football activities in early July—is still garnering “significant interest” from multiple teams.

Are one of those teams still the Panthers? Heck, were the Panthers one of those teams to begin with?

If they were and are, trading for the subpar passer (who will now have to recover from surgery on his subpar arm) adds to what would’ve already been an ill-advised risk. Garoppolo is due over $24 million in what’ll be the final season of his five-year deal—a number that won’t look too pretty sitting next to Sam Darnold’s $18.8 million salary for 2022.

Even if the Panthers are somehow able to relieve themselves of Darnold’s and/or Garoppolo’s cash, the eight-year veteran has yet to prove he’s a reliable distributor under center. Trading away any further assets—which Carolina is quite deprived of at the moment—for a quarterback who definitely isn’t a difference-maker could set the franchise back even further and likely be the final nail in head coach Matt Rhule’s coffin.