Max Kellerman believes an old face could return to New England as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2021.
But unlike Stephen A. Smith, who explained on ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday that we should not rule out Cam Newton signing with the Patriots again this off-season, Kellerman is focused on Jimmy Garoppolo.
‘I believe Jimmy G will be available. “I think Bill Belichick appreciates Jimmy Garoppolo,” said Kellerman. ‘I think this (Tom) Brady-Belichick thing is not over yet, although Brady currently has a big lead. And I think Garoppolo, if you consider the money, does not make the best quarterbacks; it was actually more of a higher-middle-class contract than an elite-type contract. And Garoppolo does the thing Belichick really likes about his quarterback: he takes the ball out quickly.
“I think there’s a very good chance Jimmy G will be the Patriots’ starter this year if I have to guess.”
Garoppolo, drafted by New England in the second round in 2014, spent parts of four seasons supporting Tom Brady until the Patriots traded the Eastern Illinois product to the 49ers in 2017.