Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Rumors: Patriots Will Reportedly Move QB for Right Offer

Contrary to previous reports, the New England Patriots are open to trading Jimmy Garoppolo if the price is right.

On Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com cited a source close to the situation as saying "everything is still on the table" regarding Garoppolo. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald noted Friday the Patriots were looking at potential options to bring in as a backup quarterback in the event they traded the signal-caller.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday the Patriots had no plans of trading their backup quarterback, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

Garoppolo, 25, was the Patriots' second-round selection in 2014. He has spent the last three seasons as Tom Brady's primary backup, earning his most extended playing time in 2016 when Brady was suspended. The Eastern Illinois product threw for 502 yards and four touchdowns against zero interceptions in six games, two of which were starts.

The Patriots expect Brady, who is 39, to play three to five more years, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Garoppolo's impending free agency made it seem likely they would look to move him this offseason rather than risk losing him for nothing.

"For the most part, I'm just trying to stay level-headed," Garoppolo said of the rumors, per Andrew Mahoney of the Boston Globe. "I'm trying not to think about it or overthink it too much. At the end of the day, I'm still under contract. It's not my decision if I get traded or if I don't. I'm just trying to take it all in stride."

There is a basic translation here: The Patriots will trade Garoppolo. It just has to be for a king's ransom. Their public hardball stance means they're very likely willing to carry Brady and Garoppolo into next season, the latter acting as a form of insurance in case the former's age begins to show.

The Patriots could then franchise Garoppolo next offseason and flip him for a haul similar to what they'd receive now. Using the non-exclusive tag would allow a team to sign Garoppolo and then hand over draft-pick compensation to New England.

It never made sense for a Garoppolo deal to be completely off the table. The Patriots just (smartly) are not going to be forced into making a move.