New England Patriots rumors: Jimmy Garoppolo has never been more available

The 2021 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the New England Patriots quarterback situation could be on the precipice of improving.

After the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall pick of the draft, rumors have been swirling on who the Niners will go with. Now, Ian Rapoport has reported that San Francisco will be taking a quarterback with their premium pick. This could improve or complicate things for the Patriots.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Patriots on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season

New England is, and absolutely should be, in the market for an upgrade at quarterback. Whether that’s through the draft or through a trade is yet to be determined.

However, if the 49ers take Mac Jones or Trey Lance, one can assume that three quarterbacks will be off the board in the first three picks. Not ideal for a team drafting 15th overall with an overwhelmingly weak quarterback room.

This has the potential to force Bill Belichick’s hand in one of two ways. Either the early run on quarterbacks prompts Belichick to trade up to ensure a quarterback prospect outside of the top three picks will be starting their career in Foxboro, or Belichick could read between the lines and push harder for current 49ers quarterback and ex-Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo, who has already been thrown around as a potential trade target for the Pats this offseason.

Or Bill will stand pat at 15, or trade down. Both of which would be classic Belichick.

I’m not sold on Belichick trading up for a quarterback or hoping one falls in his lap at 15. That would be the antithesis of everything Belichick has ever done in his tenure as the Patriots head coach and general manager.

Why trading for Jimmy G makes sense for the New England Patriots

Trading for Jimmy Garoppolo starts to make a whole lot of sense. The Niners might want him in the mix or use him as a bridge for Jones or Lance, but Belichick could take a page from Vito Corleone’s book and make San Francisco an offer they can’t refuse.

It would undoubtedly be a tough pill for Belichick to swallow. Trading for a player that you already had, and likely giving up more than you got for him, would almost certainly be one of the bigger slices of humble pie that Belichick has had in his career.

But the appeal in re-acquiring the man who was once the heir apparent could be too enticing for Belichick and the Patriots, especially with the quarterback market and the draft closing in around them.

Thursday night’s draft will provide a lot more clarity for the New England Patriots. There’s nothing that we can rule out at this point, including a draft night trade for Garoppolo.