Pat Kirwan says 49ers had ‘no choice’ on big money for Jimmy Garoppolo, but doubts Kirk Cousins gets a similar deal

In the end, Pat Kirwan thought Jimmy Garoppolo received maybe $1 million more than he expected, but was hardly surprised that the San Francisco 49ers signed the quarterback to a five-year, $137.5-million contract making him the highest-paid player in the NFL.

‘Big deal, you got him done,” Kirwan told John Clayton on Movin’ The Chains. “You had no choice.”

‘I would think someone in the bidding war for him is going to get out once it cracks even $25 million‘

Other teams still seeking a quarterback will have a choice to make, Kirwan contends. And he doesn’t think they will choose to pay similar money for the next big name expected to hit the open market, Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins.

“I don’t think that Cousins is going to command over the Garoppolo deal,” Kirwan said. “I would think someone in the bidding war for him is going to get out once it cracks even $25 million.”

‘I have real suspicions about how far can the guy take me‘

The likely teams in the mix are the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The Buffalo Bills are an outside possibility should they part ways with incumbent starter Tyrod Taylor.

“Is Kirk Cousins good enough or is Kirk Cousins the most available guy?” Kirwan, a former NFL club executive, said. “He just lost his (contractual) foundation, to me, so I’ll be real interested to see who jumps up. (Derek) Carr got the money because people believe in Oakland that he can get you to a Super Bowl. Do you believe Kirk Cousins can get you to a Super Bowl? I have real suspicions about how far can the guy take me.

‘Can you look your owner in the face and say, ‘This guy’s going to take us to the Super Bowl”

“My owner used talk to me like this. He’d go, ‘Where are we going with him?’ Can you look your owner in the face and say, ‘This guy’s going to take us to the Super Bowl; that’s why we’re going to pay him this.'”