The San Francisco 49ers have been very open with working together alongside quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo regarding his future, one likely away from the Bay Area.

But while it was always assumed that a trade would be how the Jimmy Garoppolo era would end for the Niners, it's reportedly looking like that may not be the case. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the “full set of circumstances” suggest that the 49ers will have a nearly impossible time trading Jimmy Garoppolo.

Via ProFootball Talk:

The problem arises from the full set of circumstances surrounding his situation. The biggest problem, as one league source explained it on Saturday, is the shoulder surgery Garoppolo underwent earlier this month. No one will trade for a quarterback with a $25 million compensation package after he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his throwing shoulder, the source explained.

Jimmy Garoppolo suffered the blow to his throwing shoulder during San Francisco's testy Wild Card win over the Dallas Cowboys. Any surgery to a QB's throwing shoulder is an obvious cause for alarm. But it's made worse for Garoppolo's situation given that he had the surgery “without consulting” the 49ers about it.

The expectation is reportedly that he'll be ready for the season. But that's a pretty decent-sized red flag for any team looking to acquire a quarterback with an eye towards the playoffs this season. Any team that acquires Jimmy G from the 49ers could very possibly be on the hook for his $25 million price tag while having him look like a shell of himself, miss several games, or both. The risk becomes even more substantial given that Jimmy Garoppolo, even at his best, isn't among the NFL's elite signal-callers in the first place.

That's why according to Florio's source, all signs point to the San Francisco 49ers cutting Jimmy Garoppolo. They'll have to do it before Week One in order to maximize the salary cap benefits of making the move.

Unless Garoppolo is willing to do a new contract as part of a trade (and why would he be?), a trade isn’t happened. The most likely result, the source predicted, is that the 49ers will have to cut him.

With none of Garoppolo’s salary becoming guaranteed until the eve of Week One, the 49ers can wait it out. But they won’t get cap relief without cutting him. And because he’s in the last year of his contract, cutting him would leave behind only $1.4 million in dead money — and it would instantly create more than $25 million in cap space.

The 49ers were said to have received a trade offer of two second-round picks for Jimmy Garoppolo, but according to Florio there's reason to believe that it may no longer be on the table.

Jimmy Garoppolo's future is still shrouded in mystery. As things stand, he's still a member of the San Francisco 49ers. The option to actually keep him is still on the table given the uncertainty with his heir apparent in Trey Lance. But assuming they want their clean slate and can't find a dance partner, Jimmy G have have to get the ax.