Cleveland Browns: Jimmy Garoppolo may no longer be an option in 2017
The Cleveland Browns have been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo all offseason, but he may no longer be an option for the Browns in 2017.
There is a group of Cleveland Browns fans who are aboard the Jimmy Garoppolo bandwagon. Unfortunately for these individuals, Garoppolo may not be leaving New England in 2017, according to Adam Schefter.
In a move that will have a ripple effect on all QB-needy teams, Patriots are not expected to trade QB Jimmy Garoppolo, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2017
Now this could simply be the Patriots misleading the rest of the league in order to bring in major offers for Garoppolo, but let’s take the news as literal for now.
With Garoppolo no longer being an option, the front office can remove any thoughts of trading the No. 1 or No. 12 overall picks for the Patriots’ backup quarterback. Instead, the draft board can be formulated with the expectation of taking two players in the top 12.
This is great news for fans who didn’t want to see the Browns invest in the backup quarterback. There is the chance it could work out well for the Browns, but retaining him in 2018 would be a major investment, especially when the team may only win four or five games in 2017. It would be a giant leap of faith for a guy that has had limited time on an NFL field.
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The lack of experience argument can be made for any incoming quarterback in the draft, but the lower salaries for the first contract are far more enticing for a rebuilding team like the Browns.
But as stated above, it is possible that Bill Belichick is just toying with teams like the Browns to garner a major deal for Garoppolo. The key for the Browns will be to hold off on making any offers, unless the Patriots reach out and say the quarterback is indeed available again.
The focus for the Browns now shifts to quarterback prospects available in the draft. Tyrod Taylor also remains an option if he is released by the Buffalo Bills, but that is still not certain as of right now.
With the NFL Combine underway, the Browns can great a great look at the quarterback prospects, and determine if there is anyone worth the No. 1 or No. 12 overall pick. If not, there is no need to rush or reach on a player just for the sake of having a new starter in 2017. Cody Kessler can hold down the position if needed, which still remains a possibility.
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What we do know is that Garoppolo is all but out of the question, unless Belichick is simply bluffing. But for now, that doesn’t seem likely.