Cleveland Browns: Don’t believe the Jimmy Garoppolo hype

The Cleveland Browns are in the mix for the services of Jimmy Garoppolo. But what is his real value? Hint: Don’t believe the Garoppolo hype.

The Cleveland Browns are one of three possible landing spots for Jimmy Garoppolo per Pro Football Focus. The interest in Garoppolo is increasing, leading to calls for the Browns to surrender the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to acquire him.

Is giving up the No. 12 overall pick for a backup with six quarters of game experience and plenty of room for growth a smart move? The Browns are amid a baseball-style rebuild and need to use every draft asset wisely.

In the upcoming draft, the Browns have positioned themselves for a potential franchise altering draft. They hold the No. 1, No. 12, No. 33, No. 52, and No. 65 picks in the first three rounds. These assets are extremely valuable in that they could bring in four or five players who could start immediately. Using one or multiple picks to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo may not be a wise move for a team rebuilding.

Fans and media have fallen head long in love with Jimmy Garoppolo. Articles have been written about how he is worth the No. 12 overall pick.

A recent article by Mike Tanier, NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report, recently made the case that Jimmy Garoppolo was a legitimate NFL prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft. He argues that Garoppolo played well at Eastern Illinois then impressed in the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl that season.

Being a legitimate prospect in 2014 does not translate into the No. 12 overall pick in 2017. In fact, his status as legitimate prospect did not translate into the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Garoppolo was taken with the No. 62 overall pick, or 30th pick of the second round, in that draft. That means that almost every team passed on him twice before he was taken. There had to be a reason for the entire league to pass on Garoppolo at that time.

What has changed from 2014 to 2017 to make a No. 62 overall pick worth the No. 12 overall pick now? In the two seasons after the draft, Jimmy Garoppolo has started two games. In those two games, he lasted six quarters before getting injured. In those quarters, he threw 63 passes. Not much of a sample size. So, the evaluation of what makes him different rests in projecting his future performance.