Patriots Rumors: Could Tom Brady/Jimmy Garoppolo swap happen?
New reports have suggested the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers are mutually interested in a swap of Tom Brady for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Here’s a curveball for those following the never-ending Tom Brady free agency saga at home: the San Francisco 49ers may have entered the game.
According to Bleacher Report’s Rob Goldberg, the 49ers are “closing hard” on acquiring Brady this spring. The original news report came courtesy of NBC Sports’ Tom E. Curran, an NFL insider who is believed to have sources very close to Brady and the New England Patriots in general.
On the surface at least, the move doesn’t make a lot of sense for the defending NFC champions. The 49ers gave up a second-round draft pick years ago to get Jimmy Garoppolo, who was then a member of the Patriots and Brady’s backup. Garoppolo has struggled with injuries since coming to the Bay Area, but he helped guide the Niners all the way to the doorstep of a championship this past season nonetheless.
Why, then, is there interest in jettisoning the promising young quarterback?
The thought around league circles and amongst analysts is that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t sold on Garoppolo being his quarterback of the future. Jimmy G was solid for three quarters of the Super Bowl but didn’t really do enough in the fourth quarter to stop the Kansas City Chiefs’ rally and eventual victory.
Perhaps Brady, an established winner who knows a thing or about closing out games (especially on the biggest stage), could represent an upgrade? Obviously Brady isn’t the long-term answer for the Niners, but he’d arguably be a better fit for them over the next year or two if the team is in “win-now” mode.
Plus, it’d be one heck of a story. Brady would return to the Bay Area where he grew up as a Niners fan and Joe Montana fanboy. Garoppolo would come home to the team that drafted him and reunite with Bill Belichick.
Don’t forget that Belichick reportedly was ready to move on from Brady and anoint Garoppolo his full-time starter back in 2017 according to multiple sources.
Next. Drew Brees thinks Tom Brady will be back with Pats in 2020. dark
At least on paper, the move might be a win-win for both teams. While it would certainly sting to have Brady leave and play another season or two in another uniform, Garoppolo is on the short list of quarterbacks who rational-minded Patriots fans would probably be okay with replacing the G.O.A.T. in 2020 and beyond.