Browns Expected To Make Another Run At Trading For Jimmy Garoppolo

An NFL source “familiar with all the principals involved” tells Tony Grossi that he believes the Browns “would make another run” at trying to trade for Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo at the owners meetings.

With everyone in Arizona for the league meetings, Grossi points out that the Browns would have an opportunity to meet with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick in person rather than by phone. Grossi’s source added that a deal may not be agreed to until closer to the start of the draft.

Meanwhile, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer mentions that the Browns have preliminary discussions about either trading for Garoppolo or Bengals backup QB A.J. McCarron while also trying to move Brock Osweiler in a deal.

It’s worth mentioning that some of the most prominent NFL reporters have said that the Patriots have no intention of moving Garoppolo in a deal this offseason. Even so, a number of reports have come out that a deal is still a possibility, so it’s hard to say what the likelihood of a deal really is.

The expectation has been that it would take at least a first-round pick for a team to get Garoppolo from the Patriots and the Browns could offer their No. 12 overall pick as part of a trade. Beyond that, Cleveland just acquired another second-round pick to take on Osweiler’s contract, so they could really put forth a solid package for him if they’re motivated.

Garoppolo, 25, is a former second-round pick of the Patriots back in 2014. He is entering the final year of his four-year, $3,483,898 rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $820,077 to go along with a $75,000 workout bonus for the 2017 season.

In 2016, Garoppolo completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 502 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for the Patriots over the course of six games.

We’ll have more regarding a Garoppolo trade as the news is available.