The financial details of the new Patriots agreement with Cam Newton makes it clear that New England leaves open its options with respect to the quarterback position, and the Jimmy Garoppolo rumbles continue. In a recent appearance on the PFT PM podcast, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston said that a reunion of New England-Garoppolo remains a possibility, even after the redevelopment of Newton (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
Of course, the 49ers have to make Garoppolo available via trade, and the situation is a bit murky. San Francisco GM John Lynch said last month he had no doubt Garoppolo would be his first QB in 2021, but just a few days later a report appeared indicating that Jimmy G was still on the trading block.
According to Florio, the Niners are still looking for an upgrade, and if they find one, Garoppolo will of course be dealt with. Although he has to waive his trade determination, it’s probably not a problem if San Francisco brings in a player or plans to take in a player who could pose a threat to his starting job.
As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com noted, the most important thing for the Patriots was to get a legal quarterback under contract with the free agency that opened this week. Although there are many who believe that Newton is simply no longer a viable starter, he is still a beloved figure among players, and the Pats, who have the best salary limit in the league, are active players in the market. The club are linked with some of the best receivers and concise points, and players are unlikely to consider Foxborough as Jarrett Stidham was the only passer-by on the roster. Although the Newton Agreement did not assure him anything, it had to be done.
In turn, Newton expects to take a big step forward in 2021 if given the opportunity. He recently posted a hype video on Instagram in which he promises to return next season, and depending on how things turn out in the free agency and the draft, he might get the chance. If nothing else, the fact that the Pats brought him back suggests that the team believes he can look more like his old self with a better replenishment of weapons.
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