Is Trading Jimmy Garoppolo Bill Belichick’s Riskiest Career Move?

If New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick made the wrong move in trading backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, it will be plain as day for the world to see.

Garoppolo, 25, looks primed for a long career as an NFL starting quarterback, and he undoubtedly will play in the league longer than Patriots starter Tom Brady. After Brady, who’s 40 years old, retires, Garoppolo could very well still be playing at a high level in the NFL.

If Garoppolo is among the NFL’s best quarterbacks, and if the Patriots don’t find an heir to Brady’s throne as solid as Jimmy G, then that will leave New Englanders wondering why Belichick couldn’t keep both quarterbacks for a few extra years, salary cap be damned.

Belichick took a significant risk in trading Garoppolo, and even in an ideal situation where the Patriots add another Super Bowl championship to their resume with Brady under center, fans still could have some trader’s remorse five or 10 years down the line.

Watch NESN.com’s Doug Kyed, Zack Cox and Courtney Cox discuss why the trade is such a risk in the video above.

Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images