Jimmy Garoppolo might be the future of the New England Patriots, but right now he is simply a project. The quarterback was drafted to be what many assume the heir to the Tom Brady throne, but right he is showing just as much struggle as any other rookie would be. The Patriots have high hopes for the rookie, but while he continues to work through the large playbook, does it hurt a potential trade of Ryan Mallett?
Early reports on Garoppolo are mixed. The quarterback has shown some highs during minicamp and OTAs and he has certainly displayed some lows. Kevin Guregian of the Boston Herald notes that one throw would be met with "aws" while the next was met with, "Oh wow that was bad." The Patriots took a risk on drafting Garoppolo in the second round as he clearly shows signs of being a work in progress.
The struggles of Garoppolo play right into Mallett's future. The backup quarterback is in the final year of his contract with New England and while many believe he was the future of the franchise, that might not be the case. Mallett's stock is very high in the league despite never throwing a pass in an NFL game. Many believe that a few seasons sitting behind Brady can make anyone good. While it was reported the Patriots would seek to trade him, that might not be the case anymore.
The Herald continues its report saying that right now the rookie has not overtaken Mallett on the depth chart, making it essential the quarterback sticks around. Mallett has been linked to every team from the Houston Texans to the Buffalo Bills. NFL sources believe that a trade with the Texans could still happen depending on how head coach Bill O'Brien feels about their quarterback crop.
Bill Belichick has remained adamant that Mallett is not getting traded. He notes that while the team has carried two quarterbacks traditionally, they could easily bring on three if that is what is the best for the team. Right now if Brady were to get injured, it would be Mallett that steps in. Garoppolo is still impressing some veteran players. Wide receiver Danny Amendola certainly likes what he sees from the quarterback.
"He's a smart player," Amendola said, via Boston Herald. "I don't know if they ran the same offense in college, but he's picked up the system really well. I know he's been putting in his time and his work getting in the books. He's been doing good so far. hat's huge. It's one thing to throw the ball and make the plays on your feet. But to actually control 10 other guys and get them to where they need to be is a huge part of playing the quarterback position. He's learning from the best [in] Tom and Mallett. He's doing well."
