To Jimmy G or not to Jimmy G, that is the question.
Many believe that Jimmy Garoppolo is the answer at quarterback in New England. It’s only been a matter of his availability. And now one of the top NFL insiders thinks there’s a chance he could be coming home.
Appearing on The Greg Hill Show this morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he believes that if the San Francisco 49ers are to move on from the veteran QB, it will be back to his old team or not at all.
“To me, this is New England or no one if they’re gonna trade him,” Schefter said.
Schefter pointed to the number of teams that could potentially be interested in Garoppolo at this point, noting that many who don’t have their long-term answer at QB locked up have already invested in a veteran for this season.
“Chicago made a move for a quarterback in Andy Dalton. Washington made a move for a veteran quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick,” Schefter noted.
Admitting that while he’s uncertain as to who the Niners will be taking at No. 3 overall Thursday night, Schefter offered a glimpse into the likelihood of Jimmy G moving on.
“When they made the trade up for Mac Jones, the initial plan was to hold on to Jimmy Garoppolo,” but after further conversations around the league now he thinks they “could be open to listening” to a deal for Garoppolo.
In addressing Garoppolo’s no-trade clause and interest in a Patriots reunion, Schefter speculated, “If San Francisco went to Garoppolo and said ‘We’re trading you to New England,’ you think he’d say no? No way!”
And as far as what price Garoppolo could potentially fetch the Niners, who spent three first-round picks and more to move from 12th to third overall in the draft?
“They traded a second pick to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo. So what is the price for him? It should be a second-round draft pick.”
Bill Belichick has reportedly been enamored of Garoppolo for a long time, and rumors have been swirling all uncharacteristically aggressive offseason long that New England would be open to a homecoming for the once-heir apparent to Tom Brady. This morning’s interview adds a little fuel to the fire.
As to whether or not the reunion comes to fruition, and at what price? The answers finally start coming in Thursday at at the 2021 NFL Draft at 8 p.m.