49ers trade for No. 3 overall pick in 2021 NFL Draft from Dolphins to select quarterback; Jimmy Garoppolo now headed back to Patriots?

The 2021 NFL Draft doesn't start for a little over a month – April 29 in Cleveland – but there was a blockbuster trade Friday in which the San Francisco 49ers acquired the No. 3 overall pick from the Miami Dolphins for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. The 49ers are expected to take a quarterback at No. 3, which means Jimmy Garoppolo's time in San Francisco could be up soon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news but added that the Niners are "holding on to Jimmy Garoppolo and have no plans to trade him, per sources." The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted that the Niners "plan to keep Jimmy G, believing they have a playoff-ready roster and he's the one for it. We'll see if teams can change their mind."

Schefter added that San Francisco didn't move up with one QB in mind; Clemson's Trevor Lawrence is a lock to go No. 1 overall to Jacksonville and BYU's Zach Wilson is expected to go No. 2 to the Jets.

Thus, that would presumably put the Niners in position to draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields or perhaps North Dakota State's Trey Lance ... or use the No. 3 pick in a potential trade for Houston's Deshaun Watson once his off-the-field situation gets resolved. This takes the Niners out of the Gardner Minshew trade market, presumably -- unless they do trade Jimmy G and want another bridge QB for whichever rookie.

Garoppolo being traded back to New England has been rumored all offseason and makes almost too much sense not to happen – the Pats still have plenty of cap room despite re-signing Cam Newton to a one-year deal. Newton is not the long-term future there, but the 29-year-old Garoppolo could be.

Bill Belichick groomed Jimmy G to eventually take over for Tom Brady and never wanted to trade Garoppolo during the 2017 season but was essentially forced to by owner Robert Kraft.

ESPN's Dianna Russini said this Thursday on the network's "Get Up" show: "Just recently I was talking to somebody in the league who I really trust. He's got good information. He said, 'Do not take the Jimmy Garoppolo trade off the table.' That is something New England is still sniffing out. Bill doesn't like to put his cards out on the table so most think if we all know about that it probably won't happen, but there is definitely a tone in the league that it could still go down."

As for Miami, this deal clearly reaffirms the Dolphins' faith in quarterback and 2020 No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa – at least for one more season. 

However, the Fins weren't done Friday as they traded that No. 12 pick, No. 123 overall and a 2022 first-rounder to Philadelphia for No. 6 and No. 156 overall this year. The Dolphins are widely expected to take a receiver at No. 6 – perhaps Alabama Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith to reunite with Tua.

Tear up those mock drafts!

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