The NFL has embarked on what is expected to be an off-season of unprecedented quarterback shuffling, with Matthew Stafford already heading to the Los Angeles Rams in a massive deal and a number of other starters likely to switch teams in the coming months. For the New England Patriots, the carousel could eventually return Jimmy Garoppolo to the team that drafted him first, a report speculates.
Mike Reiss, who covers the patriots ESPN, speculated that Garoppolo might be best suited for New England as the franchise is looking to replace Cam Newton. He noted that the club would likely be interested in Deshaun Watson were the Houston Texans to grant his request for an exchange, but acknowledged that it seems unlikely that the Texans would send him to the conference.
That leaves Garoppolo a more likely option, he added.
Garoppolo is probably the Patriots’ best option in terms of fitness and what it takes to get him (less than a first-rounder). But there is no guarantee that San Francisco will be willing to relocate him unless something better comes along, ”he wrote.
It had long been speculated that San Francisco would be ready to move on from Garoppolo, who was struggling with injuries.
Reiss noted that the Patriots would be strongly positioned to make a move, with more than $ 50 million in protected salary cap next season, which could give them an advantage over other teams as the salary cap is expected to be dwindle.
Although Stafford is no longer available, there are rumors that the 49ers would be in touch with other callers. As The Inquisitr reported, there are some insiders who think the team could target Aaron Rodgers, who expressed some disappointment with the Packers at the end of the season.
There are reports suggesting that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wanted to keep Garoppolo instead of sending him to the 49ers. As ESPN reported in 2018, team owner Robert Kraft told Belichick that Garoppolo, and then Tom Brady’s backup, would not fit into the franchise’s long-term plans, making Belichick “enraged and demoralized.” The Patriots now have no clear roadmap at the quarterback, with Newton not expected to return and Jarrett Stidham failing to impress in his more limited opportunities.
The uncertainty has made its way to some New England players, with the safety Devin McCourty said on his Double coverage podcast that he’s not sure what the plans are for next season.
“There are a lot of teams that need quarterbacks. We’re in that race, ”McCourty said via email ESPN.
Cam [Newton] coming back? Are we getting a new quarterback? Nobody knows. “