Now, everyone knows that Jimmy Garoppolo is a franchise quarterback. Fans wonder why the Patriots didn't franchise tag Garoppolo and then trade him to a qb-hungry team like the Cleveland Browns for a first round pick. Instead, they now have a second round pick, and no logical successor to Tom Brady. Stupid Patriots! Well, maybe not so stupid. First of all, if you wind the clock back to the trading deadline in November, everyone suspected Jimmy G was a franchise qb, but they weren't sure. NOW they are sure.
So, if the Patriots figured they liked Jimmy G but couldn't afford him in 2018, why not just keep him through the season, franchise tag him and trade him for a first round pick? The "franchise tag" would have allowed the Patriots to keep Jimmy for one year, but they would have to pay the average of the top 5 players at his position.
Sounds like a great plan, but it would not have worked. First of all, do you realize that the Franchise Tag for qbs is going to be around $23 Million dollars in 2018? The perception was (probably still is) that there are at least five first round quarterbacks in the 2018 draft. Now, why should I give the Patriots my first round pick and also pay $23 Million dollars for an unproven quarterback who isn't necessarily better than the rookie? Remember, this was back in November, so we hadn't seen him lead a weak San Francisco team to five straight wins. In particular, the Browns would predictably want to draft a quarterback rather than let someone else draft one. Shades of Brock Osweiler!
Instead, use that pick on a quarterback, and take the $23 Million dollars and get, say, Le'Veon Bell plus a decent offensive lineman.
If you wanted to trade Garoppolo to Cleveland instead of New England, you don't get Brian Hoyer who was a Patriot for several years under Belichick and McDaniel and already knows most of the offense. Instead the Browns cut Kevin Hogan or Cody Kessler, and that would have been Brady's backup. What's smart about that?
No, the Patriots knew what they had in Garoppolo and kept him as long as they could, as insurance for Tom Brady. By trading him to San Francisco, they got the best possible deal they could from San Francisco, and get a second round pick plus a very credible backup in Brian Hoyer, for a guy they were not going to be able to keep. Plus, this is the Patriots. Some qb is going to slide to the second round, and they might nab him at that point. One scary thought is what if they get Lamar Jackson, and he has the opportunity to learn about being a pocket quarterback from Tom Brady?
Instead, use that pick on a quarterback, and take the $23 Million dollars and get, say, Le'Veon Bell plus a decent offensive lineman.
If you wanted to trade Garoppolo to Cleveland instead of New England, you don't get Brian Hoyer who was a Patriot for several years under Belichick and McDaniel and already knows most of the offense. Instead the Browns cut Kevin Hogan or Cody Kessler, and that would have been Brady's backup. What's smart about that?
No, the Patriots knew what they had in Garoppolo and kept him as long as they could, as insurance for Tom Brady. By trading him to San Francisco, they got the best possible deal they could from San Francisco, and get a second round pick plus a very credible backup in Brian Hoyer, for a guy they were not going to be able to keep. Plus, this is the Patriots. Some qb is going to slide to the second round, and they might nab him at that point. One scary thought is what if they get Lamar Jackson, and he has the opportunity to learn about being a pocket quarterback from Tom Brady?
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