NFL Rumors: Cleveland Browns would give up No. 12 pick for Jimmy Garoppolo
By John Buhler
The New England Patriots have all the power here, but the Cleveland Browns would reportedly trade the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Rarely do NFL teams have all the leverage in a negotiating situation, but that appears to be the case with the New England Patriots and their coveted backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He looks to be the heir apparent to Tom Brady in Foxborough, but could also start right away from roughly six NFL teams in Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Browns may look to use their No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft in a trade package to land Garoppolo in a deal with the Patriots. Cabot believes that Cleveland doesn’t want to part ways with the No. 1 pick in the draft because the Browns plan to use that selection on Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Myles Garrett.
In a vacuum, yes, trading the No. 12 pick for Garoppolo and keeping the No. 1 pick to take Garrett would be ideal for the Browns. However, New England holds all the power in any trade talks for Garoppolo.
Frankly, the Patriots wouldn’t be wrong in demanding Browns general manager Sashi Brown give up both of Cleveland’s first-round picks this year for Garoppolo. That might sound ludicrous to some, but what is the price for stability at the quarterback position? Cleveland hasn’t known this since some guy named Bernie Kosar played under center for the Browns in the early 1990s.
Perhaps Cleveland could give up the No. 12 pick and the Browns’ first-round pick next year to land Garoppolo? It wouldn’t be shocking for the Patriots to ask for a third high draft pick to part ways with Garoppolo.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time
If Garoppolo is only an Andy Dalton/Kirk Cousins level franchise quarterback, then it will be totally worth it for the Browns to give up the fame to get him. Patience isn’t a virtue in the Browns organization. Garoppolo at least helps the Browns win a few more games in 2017 should he be dealt there.