The NFL trade deadline went down without many stories to tell but that doesn’t mean that general managers aren’t working behind closed doors to get some deals done as soon as the season comes to an end.
And, for the first time in a while, the free-agent market for quarterbacks is set to be quite deep, with names like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Tyrod Taylor, and Andy Dalton looming around.
However, it seems like the biggest moves for gunslingers could come via trade, as Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield could reportedly be on the move, with the New England Patriots keeping close tabs on the situation.
ESPN Insider Believes The New England Patriots And Jimmy Garoppolo Are A Perfect Fit
With that in mind, Bill Barnwell of ESPN claimed that if the San Francisco 49ers were to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo,the Patriots would be a logical destination for him given how thinthey’re at quarterback:
“There would be one team that looms as an obvious fit for Garoppolo, of course. The Patriots will have more cap space than the 49ers and don’t have a solution under contract for 2021,” Barnwell said.
“Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer are both free agents after the season, leaving Jarrett Stidham as the only quarterback under contract. They have publicly suggested that they think Stidham can be their quarterback of the future, but he has thrown four interceptions in 27 career pass attempts,” he continued.
“If the 49ers wanted to move on from Garoppolo, the Patriots would be the most logical suitors and the best landing spot for the veteran. The return would not be as exciting as Niners fans might hope; it’s difficult to imagine New England sending much more than a mid-to-late-round pick in return for him,” Barnwell concluded.
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It’s also worth noting that Bill Belichick reportedly wanted to trade Tom Brady, not Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers. He clearly trusts him and Jimmy already knows his system, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that he’d want him back at a discount.
NFL Executives Say Baker Mayfield Could Be Moved At The Right Price
And while this would be slightly more shocking, there’s a growing belief around the NFL that the Cleveland Browns could also move on from Baker Mayfield if a quarterback-needy team is willing to pay the price:
“He could be available, I think,” one unnamed NFL executive told Dan Pompeiof The Athletic, while another added that “There would be a market for him. But you would have to decide if you want to pay him.”
Mayfield hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype that comes with being the first overall pick of the NFL Draft and he’s been far from the difference-maker he was during his days with the Oklahoma Sooners.
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If anything, Kevin Stefanski has relied on a run-heavy offense and Mayfield has underperformed more often than not, but he could still turn out to be a solid player in the right setting.
Bill Belichick has made a living out of making the most of the other team’s disposals, and Baker Mayfield is still on his rookie deal, so it would make sense for them to try and make a run at him in the offseason.
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