Bill Belichick had his succession plan to Tom Brady in Jimmy Garropolo, except it was never allowed to play out because Brady continued to play at an elite level.
And now we're learning it went beyond just having Garoppolo in place.
According to Albert Breer in this week's MMQB column, it's his understanding the Patriots initially acquired Brandin Cooks in 2017 via a trade with the Saints as a piece for Garoppolo, not Brady.
Breer wrote there was "the feeling being that the Patriots would play more of a downfield game once Garoppolo became the quarterback, presumably in 2018."
Of course, that is the strength of Cooks' game, but when Brady won the NFL's MVP in 2017 and it was clear his level of play was not going down, Garoppolo was traded in the middle of that season. Then a few months later, the Patriots traded Cooks to the Rams since he wasn't the greatest fit with Brady still leading the offense.
This is more evidence that Brady's strong play into his 40s in a way derailed Belichick's rebuilding plan, although it needs to be noted they did get another Super Bowl out of it in the 2018 season.