Jimmy Garoppolo trade rumors: Patriots price tag is very reasonable

The latest report on the New England Patriots and Jimmy Garoppolo has the trade value set at a team’s first and second round selections in the upcoming draft.

The only drama around the New England Patriots these days is rather tolerable, as the media wonders whether or not the team will end up trading Jimmy Garoppolo in the days and weeks leading up to the draft. On Friday, the reported sentiment is that Bill Belichick is willing to part with Garoppolo only if the price is right — a team’s first and second round picks, and maybe more.

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald says the team is exploring potential veterans to sit behind Tom Brady and perhaps in front of Jacoby Brissett, last year’s third round selection, in the event Garoppolo is traded. He writes:

"There’s still no certainty the Patriots will trade Garoppolo this offseason. They don’t even know if they will because they aren’t sure if anyone will offer a suitable package. One working theory is the Patriots want at least a first- and second-round draft pick in return for Garoppolo, but it’s unclear if that’s even enough."

If that is the cost to trade for Garoppolo, it’s definitely a reasonable one and should not be read as Belichick holding any potential suitors hostage for his quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs paid two second round picks for Alex Smith without anyone else remotely interested. Everyone knew the 49ers were moving on to Kaepernick and that Smith was an asset relegated to the bench, but San Francisco still scored two high draft investments. Given the time since that trade and the need for quarterbacks around the league (and the high praise for Garoppolo’s potential compared to the current market) makes that price very affordable.

The Chiefs have been overcompensating in the media in their praise and confidence in Smith, but it’s clear that he’s the man for next year. The Chiefs, consequently, should not be considered to be in on Garoppolo given that he’s NFL-ready for this year. To trade those assets only to sit a player isn’t worth it, but Kansas City’s front office would lose face with several people if they hyped Smith to this point only to jettison him within days.

For anyone else, however, if Garoppolo can be had for a first and second, it should be a no-brainer unless that team not only loves a quarterback in this draft class more than him but is also certain of getting him.