The financial details of the Patriots’ new deal with Cam Newton make it clear that New England is leaving its options open with regard to the position of defender, and the Jimmy Garoppolo rumors continue to persist. In a recent appearance on the PFT PM podcast, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston said that a New England-Garoppolo meeting remains a possibility, even after Newton’s re-up (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
Of course, the 49ers would need to make Garoppolo available via trade, and that situation is a bit blurred. San Francisco GM John Lynch said last month that he had no doubt that Garoppolo would be his starting QB in 2021, but just a few days later, a report came up indicating that Jimmy G was still in the trading bloc.
According to Florio, the Niners are still looking for an upgrade, and if they find one, obviously Garoppolo would accept it. Although he needed to waive his no-trade clause, it probably wouldn’t be a problem if San Francisco brought, or planned to bring, a player who could pose a threat to his initial job.
As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com points out, getting a legitimate quarterback under contract was the key to the Patriots with the opening of a free agency this week. While there are many who believe that Newton is simply no longer a viable incumbent, he is still a beloved figure among players, and the Pats – who have the highest wage cap in the league – figure as active players on the market. The club has been connected to some of the best receivers and tight ends available, and these players would probably not even consider Foxborough if Jarrett Stidham was the only passer on the list. So, although the agreement with Newton does not guarantee him anything, it needed to be done.
For his part, Newton hopes to take a big step forward in 2021, if he gets the chance. He recently posted a hype video on Instagram promising a return to form next season, and depending on how things go at the free agency and draft, he may have that chance. If nothing else, the fact that the Pats brought him back suggests that the team believes he could look more like his old self with a better complement of weapons around him.
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