Pats' Notebook: Business As Usual

Josh Turano 

Tell me if you have seen this headline before, Patriots Trade Star Player.

If you are a fan of the New England Patriots, you have said goodbye to star players such as Chandler Jones, Aqib Talib, Jamie Collins and now, Jimmy Garoppolo. The New England Patriots recently traded away the apparent heir to the Tom Brady throne in Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a second round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The trade should come as no surprise, Garoppolo was set to become a free agent after the 2017 season, and with Tom Brady seeming to find the fountain of youth, the Patriots paying or even franchise tagging Garoppolo seemed very unlikely.

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However, at the moment the 49ers are tied with the Cleveland Browns for the worst team in football, both sitting at an ugly 0-8 and with the 49ers announcing that Garoppolo will NOT start this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals an 0-9 record seems very possible. Now, if you are a Patriots fan it is going to be hard to root against Jimmy Garoppolo, but you are going to have to. The worst that the 49ers perform for the rest of this year the more valuable that second round pick becomes. The New England Patriots have a very good chance of repeating as Super Bowl champions and the 49ers have an ever better chance as finishing as one of the NFL’s worst team. If this perfect storm plays out, there is a very good chance of the Patriots having the 32nd and the 33rd or at worst 34th pick in the 2018 NFL draft, as well as owning the New Orleans Saints second round pick.
    
The New England Patriots were somehow able to trade a backup quarterback who has started only two games in four seasons (appeared in 17 total games in four seasons) for potentially the first pick in the second round pick. To put this in to perspective, the Miami Dolphins traded a 24 year-old pro-bowl running back for a fourth round pick to a contender! The Patriots won this trade, without question. Garoppolo is now not even in the same conference as the Patriots but is now also the center piece of a rebuilding team. It is safe to say that Garoppolo will not be a factor in the next few Patriots ‘Super Bowl or bust’ seasons.
    
It was a little shocking the Patriots did not receive defensive help in the trade with the 49ers (Aaron Lynch could have been a good fit). However, was another defensive payer really necessary? Elandon Roberts in his first game back last Sunday against the Chargers played extremely well, Shea McClellin is looking to be coming off of the IR soon, David Harris is playing very well in the absence of Dont’a Hightower and Malcom Brown’s injury not seeing to be serious. A defensive need does not seem to be too serious at the moment. However, the Patriots are now without a back up for Tom Brady.
    
Look for the Patriots to sign Brian Hoyer in the coming days to back up Tom Brady for the reminder of the season. The 49ers had originally included Hoyer in the trade, but the Patriots declined due to Hoyer’s contract. However, do not expect Hoyer to stay for more than two years if signed. This upcoming draft class is quarterback heavy, I imagine the Patriots could look to draft Tom Brady’s new backup, potentially Baker Mayfield.
    
​I believe the Patriots will be fine without Jimmy Garoppolo, I still believe they will win the AFC East and make the AFC Championship. As for being the number one seed in the AFC, I think it is too soon to tell.
    

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