Expect the Patriots to Keep Three Quarterbacks for 2016
According to one of the best salary cap gurus in the business, the New England Patriots will carry three quarterbacks throughout the 2016 season.
The “Trade Jimmy Garoppolo for a Large Pizza NOW!” crowd was back with a vengeance after the 2016 NFL Draft. The Patriots got a lot of “Dafuq?” looks when they picked N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the third round, with the 91st overall pick, probably because:
- Brissett wasn’t really on anyone’s radar, even in a draft that might have been the thirstiest for mediocre and mid-major quarterbacks of all time, and;
- Popular opinion seemed to be that the Patriots would sign someone like Matt Flynn or another backup quarterback closer to training camp.
The New England region’s recently-aquired bad taste for guys named Jacoby notwithstanding, the pick really started grinding the gears of people who wanted Garoppolo traded for whatever the Patriots could get on the market for Jimbo. Never mind that the Dallas Cowboys looked like Michigan State playing Alabama in this year’s College Football Playoff once Tony Romo broke his shoulder, and then broke it again last year – Jimmy needs to be traded, NOW, because if New England doesn’t, he’ll just leave next year anyway once his contract is up.
Fortunately, the hero we deserve, Miguel of PatsCap.com, hopped on Twitter for one of his weekly Q&A sessions, and addressed the topic of Jimmy Garoppolo’s trade possibilities – or, really, lack thereof.
Q: Do you think Garoppolo becomes trade bait right after Week 4, if he performs well?
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 14,145,482 (@patscap) May 4, 2016
A: While possible, doubt that he will be traded.
Fair enough. You never want to count out Trader Bill, but, OK, it’s unlikely. Tell us more!
Q: if jimmy g does get traded, who do you think would be targets to get him?
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 14,145,482 (@patscap) May 4, 2016
A: Teams w/o a quality starting 2017 QB.
Keep in mind a whole bunch of teams drafted quarterbacks last weekend, and, in an odd coincidence, a lot of pretty lousy teams (think Titans, Jaguars, Eagles, Giants, Cowboys) from last year have quarterbacks locked up.
So why wouldn’t Jimmy G get traded then?
Why do U think will Jimmy G will not be traded this yr?
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 14,145,482 (@patscap) May 4, 2016
New team will want a deal w/him before a trade. Can't do that in 2016. Can in 2017
This is where it gets fun. Garoppolo’s rookie contract can’t be touched before the 2017 season. If he gets traded somewhere and tears it up, that team could be stuck paying him a boatload of money on a new deal for one good season. Or, to put it another way, exactly where Washington is with Kirk Cousins right now, where they were forced to franchise-tag him when he magically learned to throw something besides a checkdown.
So what about keeping Jacoby Brissett as injury insurance for a few games in 2016, then either trading or cutting him instead?
Q: What happens to Brissett after Brady's suspension ends? Pats usually do not keep 3 QBs on roster
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 14,145,482 (@patscap) May 4, 2016
A: Brisset will remain on the roster.
Gotcha. Why’s that, though?
If the Patriots waive Jacoby Brissett after 4 games, they would have paid him close to 800K for 4 games. Not going to happen.
— Miguel Benzan Patriots Cap Space is 14,145,482 (@patscap) May 4, 2016
So, even though that one guy raises a good point – the Patriots haven’t kept three quarterbacks on the roster for a little while now – the idea of trading Jimmy doesn’t make sense, because of his contract, regardless of whether he’s traded before, during, or after Brady’s suspension. And Brissett might as well stay on the roster, because he’s costing you money regardless, being that he’s on a first-year deal.
Besides, let’s be serious, having three quarterbacks that the coaching staff believes in on the Patriots’ roster is a great problem to have.