NFL Notes: Jimmy Garoppolo, Rashad Jennings, Colts, Lions

Jimmy Garoppolo

Mike Freeman of B/R reports that several teams are preparing to make “blockbuster offers” to the Patriots for backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

According to Freeman, there’s no guarantee Garoppolo is traded this offseason, but some around the NFL believe a draft shakeup is coming that will involve Garoppolo being dealt. Freeman says that there’s an “increasingly popular” view that Garoppolo can transform a franchise almost overnight and is worthy of a first-round pick.

Rashad Jennings

Former Giants RB Rashad Jennings mentioned during an appearance on Good Morning Football that he knew it was possible New York was going to release him this offseason.

“Well, I mean, could I see it coming? You always have that possibility,” Jennings said, via NFL.com. “You could kind of see a rotation in the backfield and how we were operating that that was a possibility that could be strong. Obviously, I’m a vet in the game and I kind of see it from the business standpoint.”

Jennings added that he’s still working out right now and hoping to get a call from another team.

“But where I’m at right now, I’m excited, you know? Free agent, you know, healthy,” Jennings said. “I’m down in Florida already training, trying to get ready for a team to call me. I always say my job every single year is to make one GM right and that’s no doubt what I’ll be doing this upcoming season.”

Colts

• Mike Wells of ESPN writes that if the Colts don’t take someone like Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, LSU’s Leonard Fournette or Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey in the first round, there are some targets who could be available to them later work considering as an eventual replacement to Frank Gore.
• Wells specifically mentions Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), D’Onta Foreman (Texas) and Joe Mixon (Oklahoma) as three possible options.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein of ESPN writes that the Lions could make a “big splash” this offseason at the tight end position in both free agency and the draft.
• Some free agent targets for the Lions, according to Rothstein, could include Martellus Bennett (Patriots), Anthony Fasano (Titans), and Mychal Rivera (Raiders).
• As for the draft, Rothstein lists Michigan’s Jake Butt, Toledo’s Michael Roberts, and Ashland’s Adam Shaheen as names to keep an eye on for Detroit.