If the New England Patriots end up trading Jimmy Garoppolo before the start of the 2017 season, no one is going to look worse than Adam Schefter.
Schefter, one of the most respected reporters in sports, has been saying for months that there is zero chance the Patriots will trade Garoppolo. With speculation still swirling leading up to the draft that the Cleveland Browns or some other team could make Bill Belichick an offer he can’t refuse, Schefter doubled down on Sunday.
ICYMI (in February): Jimmy Garappolo isn't going anywhere. His name continues to surface in trade rumors and speculation – not happening.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 23, 2017
Schefter started squashing Garoppolo trade rumors in February, and he made his strongest statement to date about it in March. For whatever reason, he insists he is 100 percent certain Garoppolo will be on New England’s roster come Week 1.
It’s hard to imagine the Patriots turning down multiple first-round picks, but you can understand why they value keeping Garoppolo. He knows the system and has proven he can perform at the NFL level. Most importantly, Jimmy G. gives the Patriots insurance should something happen to Tom Brady, who happens to be turning 40 this offseason. While Brady showed no signs of decline last year, Belichick probably wants to wait it out with Garoppolo on the roster for another season before reevaluating.
