New Details On Why Patriots-Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Fell Apart

Jimmy Garoppolo almost joined the New England Patriots through trade deal this offseason. NFL analysts talked about the potential reunion but it didn’t happen. Why would the Patriots go back to their former quarterback?

Tom Brady left the Patriots and the team struggled to make an impact under Cam Newton. The 2015 NFL MVP took the lead role last season but the Patriots ended up missing the playoffs. Head coach Bill Belichick selected a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft and brought Newton back. Well, he considered re-signing Garoppolo before making each of these moves. They couldn’t get him though. Jones and Newton competed for the No.1 quarterback position. The rookie won and he is already winning games with the Patriots.

What happened to the story revolving around Garoppolo?

Seth Wickersham wrote about this story in his new book, “It’s Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness.”

Wickersham wrote that the Patriots and 49ers talked before going up the NFL Draft. It was all about the money. Belichick didn’t want to pay too much money. He was going with a second-round pick but San Francisco wanted a first-rounder. It was an informal call and it got stuck in the middle of nowhere.

“There was an informal call between a high-level representative of the Patriots and a high-level 49ers official,” Wickersham wrote. “What was Garoppolo’s price? New England wondered if a second-rounder would suffice — calling it even from 2017. But the 49ers wouldn’t take less than a first. The Patriots reached the same conclusion as San Francisco — they liked the potential of the available first-round quarterbacks more than Garoppolo — and moved on.”

Jones and Newton competed in training camp and the rookie got the job. The Patriots entered the NFL with a loss but they have won a few games. They beat the New York Jets last Sunday and the Los Angeles Chargers are next on their list. Patriots players have to much to prove right now and they will have to play their best football throughout the entire season. Let’s see what happens this Sunday.