The Facts: Now that the NFL's two-day negotiating period has opened, inquiring football minds want to know if the Patriots will consider parting with Garoppolo for the right price. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last week that New England's brass is not comfortable turning the team over to 2016 third-round pick Jacoby Brissett in the event of a serious Tom Brady injury. After speaking with a source "somewhat connected to the situation," NFL Network's Mike Garafolo suggested on Tuesday that it would take a 2017 first-round pick and perhaps another first-rounder in 2018 to get HC Bill Belichick's attention.

Diehards Line: The upshot is that Belichick views Garoppolo as a valuable piece of the team's nucleus rather than a trade chip used to stockpile draft picks. By all accounts, Belichick views Garoppolo as not just a future star, but also the best possible Brady insurance as the Patriots attempt to defend their Super Bowl LI title. Even if Brady is showing no signs of decline and expects to play at a high level for at least the next three to five years, the Patriots understand injuries blindside key players every season. They are perfectly content to holster Garoppolo and revisit quarterback plans once Brady makes it through 2017 unscathed.