:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57396517/867844990.0.jpg)
The New England Patriots have traded their prized backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Major QB shakeup: 49ers trading 2018 2nd-round draft pick to New England for Patriots’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
The trade for Garoppolo to a quarterback-needy team that is off to its worst start in franchise history after eight games shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to anyone, given that there’s been Garoppolo trade talk for nearly a year now. Before the season, it was almost inevitable that some team would trade for Garoppolo, the only real speed bump was the asking price — thought to be a first-round pick in the preseason.
Were the Jaguars a suitor for Garoppolo? Probably not. Would a second-round pick for him midseason have been best for the team? Again, no.
The Jaguars are clearly (and inexplicably) in win now mode and no matter how substandard Blake Bortles has been, making a switch at the quarterback position in Week 9 is probably a net negative. They need to win every game they can and taking a few weeks to acclimate Garoppolo might have cost them the division.
Would it have set them up for a good 2018? Probably. But for a team a decade out of its last playoff appearance, short-term goals are the answer. Win the AFC South this year and worry about a quarterback in next year’s free agency and draft classes.