New England Patriots: Five most important backups

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Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19), center David Andrews (60), and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) react in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Jimmy Garoppolo, Quarterback

This is the obvious number one selection. When news came out of Tom Brady being suspended the first four games of the 2016 season, it was really almost a non-issue at all for the Patriots.

Of course, Brady came back and over the course of the final 12 games, he played other-worldly football, leading the Patriots to an incredible come-from-behind victory in the Super Bowl. Brady was basically perfect, but for the first two games of his suspension, Jimmy Garoppolo was not only holding down the fort but playing like a top quarterback as well.

When Garoppolo was injured he had two games with a quarterback rating of 106.1 and 135.4 with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Garoppolo is the future in New England, and he’s staying remarkably patient throughout Tom Brady’s final few seasons. The Patriots refused to trade Garoppolo this offseason due to the fact that he’s the top backup in the NFL, probably at any position.

The development he’s shown in New England’s offense has been excellent thus far, and whenever Brady does decide to call it a career, this team will be in good hands.

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