The New England Patriots are reportedly trying to bring a familiar face back to the franchise after their dismal first season without longtime quarterback Tom Brady.
On an episode of his podcast last week, Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard reported that Jimmy Garoppolo – who the Patriots traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 – is “far away” the Patriots’ “Plan A” at quarterback.
“If they had to set it up, just the optimal situation for the Patriots for next season, it’s Jimmy G coming back here,” Bedard said. “And of course that all depends on the 49ers doing something.”
The Patriots signed Cam Newton as their starter for the 2020 NFL season. New England finished the year with a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs.
Newton, who spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers, had 2,657 yards, eight passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 15 games. He also had 12 hasty touchdowns.
A second Patriots season for Newton seems unlikely, and New England also doesn’t seem to be sold on Jarrett Stidham as their future starter.
Last month, The Athletic reported that the Patriots had called every team with a potential quarterback trade goal, though those chases never got traction. The Patriots are also “heavily scouting” the best quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft class, according to the publication.
But it appears these are fallback options as the patriots seek a reunion with Garoppolo, whom they selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. Just over three months after the 2017 Halloween trade, Garoppolo signed a five-year contract from $ 137.5 million with the 49ers. He still has two years to go before that deal.
His first full season as a starter for the Niners in 2018 ended abruptly in Week 3 when he suffered a torn ACL. Garoppolo returned in 2019 to help lead San Francisco to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance that the 49ers lost to the Chiefs.
Injuries limited Garoppolo, 29, to six starts in 2020. There was rumor during the season that the Niners were ready to move on from Garoppolo, and despite public support from the organization, divorce is still being talked about.
“Do I believe 49ers CEO John Lynch when he claims that Garoppolo will be his starter in 2021? Of course not, ”NFL insider Michael Lombardi recently wrote in The Athletic. “They’re too active, too aggressive to turn it back another year with someone they don’t have full confidence in.”
The 49ers have called the Panthers about Teddy Bridgewater, according to The Athletic, another sign they are looking for a new quarterback.
If the 49ers are really ready to ditch Garoppolo, it looks like Bill Belichick will be waiting with open arms to welcome him back to Foxborough.