Jimmy Garoppolo Sweepstakes Just as Big as Tony Romo Sweepstakes
With the offseason underway in the NFL, two questions now come into play: Where will Romo end up? Which team will inevitably trade for Jimmy Garoppolo? Tony Romo is probably the hottest topic in football right now, and everyone is interested to see where he winds up. It is utterly reminiscent of when Peyton Manning was a free agent, although Romo is not nearly as decorated. For teams that cannot get Romo, there is still a very good option not many people are talking about yet — New England Patriots backup, Jimmy Garoppolo.
Before anyone asks the inevitable, New England has indeed stated an open mind when it comes to dealing Garoppolo. Although it won’t be as easy as acquiring Jamie Collins, teams who desperately need a quarterback won’t be afraid to give the Patriots what they want. Despite the little experience Garoppolo has in the league, he could still be a solid franchise QB for years to come. Not only has he been coached by Bill Belichick, he played behind and learned from arguably the best quarterback to ever play the game. With two games under his belt, he was able to put together a string of decent performances — perhaps a preview of what his career could be if traded. In the two games he started, he was 2–0 with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also completed 71% of his passes and threw for 496 yards. With little talent at quarterback in the draft, Garoppolo will be a highly coveted trade bait. The only question is, what will teams be willing to give in order to win the Garoppolo sweepstakes?
Tony Romo has already established himself as a solid quarterback. Since becoming a starter for the Cowboys in 2006, he has posted the 4th best QB rating (QBR) of all-time (97.1). He is also tied with Peyton Manning for 5th best completion percentage all-time (65.3). Tony Romo could very well be the answer to any team with QB problems, and is easily the safer option between himself and Garoppolo. Although, getting Romo might end up being just as risky. Let’s not forget the fact that Romo is 36, and will only get older. With a deteriorating body, injuries might continue to plague Romo for the rest of his career. Romo has not played a full season since 2014, which could also play a factor in his performance. However, we were able to catch a glimpse of what he could do if he can stay healthy. Romo was 3 for 4 with 29 yards and a touchdown in the only game he played this year. Not much of a sample size, but it’s always better than nothing.
Experience will most likely be the deciding factor when choosing between Romo or Garoppolo. In this case, Romo clearly has an advantage. However, Garoppolo is still a great choice, and can be the next franchise quarterback for whatever team decides to pursue him. Both quarterback’s futures are uncertain as of today, but I won’t be surprised if both are starting for a different team in 2017.
