Browns Acquire Jimmy Garoppolo for First Overall Pick
New England now holds the number one overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft
A move that few saw coming to fruition is now official: the Cleveland Browns have acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the number one overall pick.
Multiple sources have now confirmed Cleveland will trade the number one pick, as well as quarterback Cody Kessler, to the New England Patriots in exchange for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
In making the deal, Garoppolo will sign a five-year contract worth $90 million with Cleveland to secure his place as the franchise quarterback going forward.
While densely connected at the start of the NFL offseason, both Cleveland and New England initially denied they would swap Garoppolo and the first-overall pick. Bill Belichick seemed set on holding onto the 25-year-old quarterback, despite this being the final year of his rookie contract.
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Cleveland general manager Sashi Brown also reiterated the number one overall pick, first projected to be Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett, would not be moved. The acquisition of quarterback Brock Osweiler from Houston spelled the end of the Garoppolo rumors, but with Kessler now out in the trade Cleveland can move forward with Garoppolo and possibly move Osweiler.
New England’s plan with the number one overall pick is not yet known. Belichick could auction the pick off to the highest bidder, considering the team does not have a pick in the first two rounds.
Chicago, San Francisco, and Tennessee could be candidates to acquire the pick from New England.
The Patriots could choose to hold onto the first overall pick and select Garrett to play over either Trey Flowers or the recently-acquired Kony Ealy.
Another possibility is that New England sees someone who can fill holes in their secondary such as Jamal Adams, Marshon Lattimore, or Malik Hooker.
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