Jimmy Garoppolo is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the New England Patriots have plenty of cap space. So it stands to reason the two sides might work to hammer out a deal before Garoppolo becomes a free agent next March.
However, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the two sides are unlikely to work out an extension.
This means there is a very real possibility Garoppolo will hit the market next spring, where he could sign with any team for what we assume will be a lucrative deal. The big deal for Tom Brady’s backup right now is having a chance to play — something he doesn’t have in New England and something he recently admitted is difficult to bear.
“We all want to be out there on the field and get an opportunity to play. I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there is probably the best way to put it. We’re competitors at the end of the day. We want to be out there, I want to be out there competing and playing with my teammates.”
The Patriots had a chance to get plenty in return for Garoppolo this offseason in a trade scenario. Multiple teams were said to be interested in landing the 25-year-old passer, who did a darn good job filling in for Brady last year. However, the Patriots ended up deciding it was more valuable in the short term to keep Garoppolo on the roster for insurance in case of a Brady injury.
By kicking the can down the road, however, they’re setting up what will be a very interesting situation at the end of the year if they don’t end up needing that insurance.