The NFL offseason has been a game of quarterback musical chairs. With the music stopped (or at least paused), Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield remain without a seat.
In several respects, Garoppolo's and Mayfield's situations are similar. Each had shoulder surgery this offseason. Each has a relatively high salary teams have, so far, been reluctant to absorb in a trade. And each is on the outs with his team because he has already been replaced.
Garoppolo, who has been the 49ers' starter since late in the 2017 season, has known since last year's draft he'd have to step aside for No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. Mayfield, who has been the Browns' starter since early in his 2018 rookie season, found out with the rest of us in March that Cleveland was trading with Houston for Deshaun Watson, who faces 24 civil lawsuits alleging inappropriate behavior and sexual assault during massage sessions.
Is it possible both Garoppolo and Mayfield begin the regular season with the 49ers and Browns, respectively? Sure. It's hard to find people in league circles, however, who believe they will.
As mandatory minicamps continue through next week -- with both Garoppolo and Mayfield excused by their teams from attending -- we took a straw poll of league executives, coaches and agents to find out what people think will happen. Here's a rundown of what we've been told, ending with a consensus on the most likely landing spots for each:
