The Facts: Garoppolo is unlikely to play in the Super Bowl, the usual life of a backup to Tom Brady and all that goes with being in the shadows of the former NFL Most Valuable Player. Garoppolo isn't your normal clipboard holder, though. He's talented enough that he's emerged as a potential trade commodity for the Patriots and a possible target for quarterback-needy NFL teams, including the Texans. When asked if he'd like to be traded, Garoppolo replied: "I haven't even thought about it to be honest, sorry."
As Chronicle staffer Aaron Wilson suggests, the Patriots will obviously drive a hard bargain and hedge their bets with Garoppolo conside
Diehards Line:ring that the seemingly ageless Brady turns 40 next season. It could cost a first-round draft pick and change to get Garoppolo via a trade. Garoppolo played well before hurting his shoulder while Brady served a four-game Deflategate suspension. Garoppolo, a former second-round draft pick from Eastern Illinois, has completed 67 percent of 94 throws with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. The improvement of Garoppolo makes him a potential successor to Brady, but Brady has shown no signs of slowing down. Given all that, we'll see if the Patriots decide to leverage Garoppolo's success to gain valuable draft capital.