Jimmy Garoppolo‘s name figures to come up frequently this offseason as a potential quarterback target, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com spoke with a source close to the Patriots who would be “stunned” if New England moved its current backup. Schefter reiterates the interest from other teams in the soon-to-be contract-year quarterback will be there, but the desire for the franchise to build in a succession plan from Tom Brady to his current backup will be as well.
Garoppolo played well during his two-plus-week audition before an injury prevented the third-year player from suiting up against the Bills, and although Brady has delivered his usual top-flight work, he will turn 40 during training camp next year. Brady is under contract through 2019, however.
This week’s activation of rookie Jacoby Brissett makes this season the first time the Pats have carried three quarterbacks since 2011 (Brady, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett), and it leads Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com to wonder if Brissett’s additional reps are setting the stage for him to be Brady’s backup next season after a Garoppolo trade.
Here’s more regarding quarterbacks, beginning with another who figures to draw significant interest this offseason.
- While Tony Romo, Jay Cutler and Colin Kaepernick figure to be available this offseason, Schefter notes the younger trio of Garoppolo, Mike Glennon and A.J. McCarron will draw more interest. Both Glennon and McCarron wound up in trade rumors this offseason, with nothing substantial materializing for the current Buccaneers and Bengals’ backups. But Glennon will be a UFA at season’s end, and Schefter pegs his price range at $13-$15MM AAV. Although, that’s somewhat of an unpopulated middle ground between franchise-level starters and the highest-paid backups. Glennon has a larger sample size to judge than Brock Osweiler did, making 18 starts between 2013-14 pre-Jameis Winston. He went 5-13 in those games and finished both seasons with completion percentages under 60. However, the 27-year-old does have 30 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions, and Schefter could see Glennon’s price drifting onto the low-end franchise tier if a number of teams pursue him.
- The view of Blake Bortles is better in Jacksonville than it is in other NFL cities, Schefter writes, with some around the league scoffing at the third-year quarterback’s skills. The Jaguars‘ next coach will not be forced to start Bortles, who has regressed in his third season as the Jags have sunk to 2-12. But if the Jags aren’t able to land one of the aforementioned young QBs, Schefter notes they might be better off picking up his fifth-year option and attempting to see if a new staff can develop him better.
- Browns backup Josh McCown is contemplating retirement. He will be 38 next season in the final year of his Cleveland contract.
- The Broncos are giving strong consideration to keeping Trevor Siemian as their starter in 2017.