NFL Rumors: New England Patriots will NOT Trade Jimmy Garoppolo

According to multiple NFL reporters, it appears the Patriots may not trade Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.

Since last preseason, there has been a low rumble that the Chicago Bears would make a push this offseason to trade for New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. As we progressed through the season, the volume on that rumble continued to grow until eventually it became a loud roar. As we approach the free agency period in the NFL, there were reports that the Bears were the favorite to land Garoppolo.

However, recent reports now show that Garoppolo may not be traded at all. Peter King wrote about Garoppolo in his Monday Morning Quarterback column and said this:

"I think Jimmy Garoppolo will not be traded by New England this off-season. I think it’s pretty obvious why everyone thinks he will be: Tom Brady just finished a season with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’ll next take a snap when he’s 40, but when he looks this good at 39, no one expects him to fall off a cliff. Got it. So go get a first-round pick for Garoppolo and develop Jacoby Brissett."

"But there are two problems with this logic, as I see it. And understand, I have not spoken with Belichick about this; it is a simple reading of the tea leaves knowing the way Belichick could be looking at it."

"One: In the 17 seasons since the Patriots drafted Brady, Garoppolo has to be the first man Belichick looks at and thinks can be the Patriots’ quarterback for the next decade. He’s smart, makes good decisions, has shown (admittedly in a very brief window last September) that he can beat quality opponents."

"Two: The Patriots do the most with lesser prospects of any team in recent league history. If you’ve got a starting quarterback about to turn 40, regardless of his incredible good health and fitness, whatever Brady gives the Patriots now is a bonus. If I’m Belichick, I’m thinking: I’d rather have a quarterback on my roster who I know can win January games in 2017 than go without him and have a first-round pick instead. I can’t tell you how he’s thinking; I can only tell you that based on Belichickian logic, I think that’s most likely how he is thinking heading into the off-season."

King was the only NFL reporter that had spoken this confidently that Garoppolo would stay in a Patriot uniform. Until a few days later, when Ed Werder tweeted this:

That makes two major reporters that are plugged into the league that don’t feel the Patriots will part ways with Garoppolo. The Bears are in a situation where they can’t wait another year to make a major change to their quarterback position. If Garoppolo was indeed Ryan Pace’s QB target and if he isn’t available, that’s going to make him have to change course quickly.

Now it should be noted that neither of them said that Garoppolo won’t be traded, they said they don’t expect him to be traded. This could be as simple as the Patriots putting it out there that Garoppolo isn’t available to force teams to up their offers to try to pry him away. Or, of course, it could mean that the Patriots aren’t trading Garoppolo.

Until we hear definitively from the Patriots that Garoppolo is off the market, you can’t assume that he won’t be traded. But if this was Pace’s plan, he better have a back-up plan ready to go.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.