Reworking quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract might open the way for a trade.

The Jimmy Garoppolo saga has been one of the NFL off-season’s hottest topics. By all appearances, the 49ers are ready to move on from their quarterback in favor of Trey Lance. However, after a scorching hot stove to begin the offseason, the burners have become chilly in recent months.

Garoppolo’s contract may be a big part of that cold front. The 49ers have just $1.4 million in dead money tied to Garoppolo’s contract, whereas he’s carrying a cap hit of $26.7 million. Teams would be paying a premium price for a quarterback who has made NFC Championship Game appearances in two of the past three years, but has been inconsistent and hasn’t gotten the Niners over the hump. On top of that, with just one season left, Garoppolo could well be a rental.

The 49ers and Garoppolo are working to correct the situation, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. The 49ers “have maintained an open channel of communication with Garoppolo’s team for the last few months,” according to Breer, and “both sides are prepared to be flexible.”

Breer added “…if a team’s out there wanting to renegotiate the final year of his contract, which has $24.8 million on it (and is not guaranteed), as part of a trade, the opportunity’s there to do it, and other teams know it.”

The 49ers and Garoppolo had markets dissipate in March, when Garoppolo had rotator cuff surgery that would sideline him until July. After that, the Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, and Russell Wilson situations all resolved in fairly rapid succession, while the fallout from Watson led to the Colts trading for Matt Ryan.

While most clubs believe they are reasonably set at this time in the offseason, things begin to open up once training camp begins. Injury can always clear roster space, and depth becomes a problem.