Cleveland Browns: Jimmy Garoppolo trade makes sense if done right

By Joel W. Cade | Feb 16, 2017

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) runs onto the field before the game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns are in the market for Jimmy Garoppolo. After all the hype, what is a reasonable trade value for his services?

The Cleveland Browns should trade for Jimmy Garoppolo – only if the deal is right. The recent hype surrounding Garoppolo needs to be a non-factor in any trade negotiations.

When a fan base rallies behind a player, it could force the hand of the front office into doing something that may not be in the best interest of the team. Worse, actions of the fan base can be used as leverage against the team’s front office in negotiations.

In the movie Draft Day, Sonny Weaver, played by Kevin Costner, uses the fan base’s enthusiasm for a quarterback as leverage against the fictional Seattle Seahawks’ front office to secure a favorable trade.

The Browns front office needs to have an objective evaluation of Jimmy Garoppolo. They also need to have a specific plan in place for how they intend to use Garoppolo once he is acquired. An objective evaluation and specific plan will determine his value to the Browns.

Once the value is determined the Browns need to evaluate past markets and precedents for the value of a backup quarterback viewed as a potential starter. Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com explores the value of trades situations like this one. He concludes that none of the discussed trades were “franchise-changers in either direction”.

A trade for Garoppolo will most likely not be a “franchise-changer” for the Cleveland Browns. Some will argue, “It could be. You will never know unless you do it and find out”. Making trades based on “could be” seems irresponsible.

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Given Garoppolo’s lack of experience due to his small sample size combined with his performances in 2016 that did little to dispel the weakness identified in his 2014 NFL.com scouting report, Garoppolo’s status is cemented as “could be”. He is a potential starting quarterback in the same way as any player in the NFL Draft – with one major exception.

If the Browns wish to keep Garoppolo beyond next season, they must pay out starting quarterback money. Conversely, if a team drafts a potential starting quarterback in the draft, they have that player on a rookie contract for four years. This alters Garoppolo’s value significantly.

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Instead of having three or four cheap years to develop Garoppolo, the Browns will pay significantly to develop Garoppolo. As it currently stands, Cody Kessler is a younger and more experienced quarterback than Garoppolo. Both need developed, but Kessler is cheaper and ahead of Garoppolo in the developmental process.

For the Browns to acquire Garoppolo they must see his value lying in his ability to potentially develop into a starting quarterback or merely as a bridge to a younger player. This is the same role Robert Griffin III played for the Browns last season.

Viewed as a developmental/bridge quarterback would go a long way to setting a fair price for Garoppolo on the open market. The Browns could acquire him and develop him for a year.

Negotiations for Garoppolo should begin by offering a third-round compensatory pick. This starting point puts Garoppolo’s value in line with the compensation the Patriots will receive if they were to simply let him walk after next year. It also places the burden of proof on the Patriots as to why they deserve more than that price.

Belichick should be pressed to answer why he is willing to trade Garoppolo with $67 million in cap space and a 39-year-old quarterback. If he cannot answer that question to the Browns liking, the Browns should pull out.

If he can, then the Browns should proceed from the third-round compensatory pick as the starting price for negotiations keeping in mind Garoppolo’s role as developmental/bridge quarterback.

There is a precedent in the Kevin Kolb trade back in 2011. Kolb was the No. 36 overall pick in the draft. The Eagles received the No. 51 overall pick and another player. Garoppolo was the No. 62 overall pick. It stands to reason that the No. 65 overall pick plus another player or late-round draft pick would be a reasonable price also.

However, one never knows how the market will play out. Both the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears are in the market for Garoppolo. Their fan bases may value him differently and their front offices may buy into the hype. Ultimately, the Browns second second-round pick, No. 52 overall, plus a late-round pick or additional player is a fair price for the services of Garoppolo.

Next: Don't believe the Garoppolo hype

It should be interesting to see how the market plays out. Regardless, the Browns need to keep in mind Garoppolo’s role and value when negotiating. This front office has already proved it can negotiate shrewdly, Browns fans can relax knowing that this front office will not do something crazy.

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