Patriots Open To Trading Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is hoping to see his second-round pick backup quarterback improve toward becoming a franchise player..

Patriots Open To Trading Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport stated Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning that the team will consider offers for the QB, although it remains uncertain whether Garoppolo will be traded to the top bidder.

“The Patriots are open to trading Jimmy Garoppolo and they are going to listen to all offers, as they have over the last couple years for Garoppolo — and they have gotten a couple inquiries,” Rapoport said. “But from what I am being told there are several complicating factors: First of all, the price tag, expected to be at least a first-round pick — just based off the quarterback market. Will anyone give them that? Second of all, are the Patriots really comfortable going forward with Jacoby Brissett as their backup quarterback in case Tom Brady gets hurt? That might be the biggest question of all.”

The price for Garoppolo could change depending on what happens with Kirk Cousins’ contract situation in Washington and where Dallas’ Tony Romo ends up. The Cleveland Browns, for example, would be a logical team for Garoppolo to end up with– former Browns GM and long-time Belichick confidant Mike Lombardi has already stated his team would actively pursue Garoppolo.

The Browns have two first-round picks, the first overall and No. 12, thanks to Philadelphia.

Garoppolo only has two career starts, however, which is something that may make several teams more reluctant to give up a first-round pick or almost anyone else for the 25-year-old backup QB. Garoppolo shone during Brady’s four-game Deflate-gate suspension to start the season, however, throwing for 496 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions while picking up two wins. He also completed 70 percent of his passes during that stretch. Brissett also played well in the beginning of the season, however.

The Patriots have a history of drafting a quarterback to play behind Brady only to later trade him to a team desperate for help at the position. Although Brady is now 39, he has not given any indication as of yet that he is prepared to retire.

In March 2009, New England sent Matt Cassel, who had started 15 games the season before and helped lead the Pats to an 11-5 record, to Kansas City, (along with linebacker Mike Vrabel) for a second-round pick. The Patriots ended up with safety Patrick Chung, who is still with the team. Meanwhile, Cassel never turned into the franchise player the Chiefs had hoped for, and by 2013, he was playing in Minnesota. In the five seasons since, Cassel has played for three other clubs.

NFLDraftScout.com’s Rob Rang and Dane Brugler, in their most recent mock drafts for CBSSports.com, both have the Browns taking Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with that first selection and Florida cornerback Tez Tabor 11 picks later.

FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29:  Jimmy Garoppolo #11 of the New England Patriots hands the ball off during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)