The Jimmy Garoppolo era with the Raiders unceremoniously ended on Friday, although in an unexpected way as the quarterback was suspended two games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy, league sources confirmed. The Raiders plan to cut Garoppolo in one month, after he starts the NFL year, to avoid paying him an $11.25 million bonus, a team source and league sources confirmed.
Garoppolo will not appeal the suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season.
Garoppolo enters 2024 with a fully guaranteed salary of $11.25 million and a roster bonus of $11.25 million due March 17. Suspending it from work will void these guarantees.
Garoppolo had a very difficult year with the Raiders, starting with his press conference being postponed after he failed a physical and needed further foot surgery. The Raiders reworked the three-year, $73 million contract due to surgery, but reworked him again after his return to reclaim the $33.75 million guaranteed.
Garoppolo, 32, didn't play well and led the league in interceptions with nine when he was benched in Week 9. He has completed 110 of 168 passes for 1,205 yards with just seven touchdowns. General manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels, who brought in Garoppolo because of their ties to the New England Patriots, were also fired that week.
Releasing Garoppolo would leave new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce with two quarterbacks on the roster, Aidan O'Connell and Brian Hoyer. But Hoyer also won't be back and the Raiders are expected to be aggressive in their efforts to trade up from the No. 13 spot and draft a quarterback, or sign a veteran free agent.
Garoppolo took the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2019 season after being acquired from the Patriots.
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