The Jimmy Garoppolo trade has been hotly debated since the day it happened. It’s been argued that the New England Patriots should have received more than just a second-round pick back. It has been “reported” that the Patriots could have received a first-rounder from multiple teams in exchange for the quarterback. But what if there is a very simple explanation for why Patriots head coach/general manager Bill Belichick decided that the San Francisco 49ers were the team Garoppolo needed to be traded to?
Before we analyze the move itself, let’s take a look at the decision Belichick was facing.