Felger & Mazz: Would You Trade Jimmy Garoppolo For 2015 First Round Pick?
BOSTON (CBS) - Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti posed a unique hypothetical question Wednesday afternoon.
Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the consensus top two quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL Draft, and Felger is hearing from people he trusts that if Jimmy Garoppolo, New England's second round pick (62nd overall) in 2014, was in this quarterback class he would be the third signal caller taken off the board, and it would be in the first round.
Garoppolo was the fifth QB taken in 2014, but in this lackluster crop of QBs he would be highly coveted and taken much higher. So given the importance of the position and the widespread need for it around the league, would the Patriots entertain trading Garoppolo for a first round pick? Patriots aside, would you entertain that trade?
Felger & Mazz had a debate over this subject matter on Wednesday, and the opinions were mixed.
Mazz: It always depends on where the first rounder is, but my answer is no.
Felger: From [picks] 10-20?
Mazz: No
Felger: From [picks] 1-10?
Mazz: [pause] Probably not. If you're in the top five it gets tougher, but I still say no.
This take caused headlines guy Jim Murray to perk up.
Murray: I don't mean to insult you Mazz, but my question is what have you seen out of him, other than looking poised in a few preseason games and mop-up duty, to think he is the heir apparent to Tom Brady?
Mazz: That's pretty much it, but I think there's a chance that he's going to be pretty good. He looks like a quarterback on the field. He's got the release, a grasp of what's going on, the whole thing. He looks like he's not overwhelmed, he knows where guys are supposed to be, the ball comes out quick and he's accurate. I'm taking my chances there. If he is, and I understand it's a huge if, but let's say he is the next guy, nobody can offer you anything near enough to trade him, and I think there's actually a chance he's going to be pretty good. And pretty good for me is good enough.
Felger: Murray, let me ask the same question to you: if somebody offered you a first round pick from 10-20, would you do it?
Murray: Absolutey. In a heartbeat.
Felger: What about [picks] 20-32?
Murray: [pause]
...then producer James Stewart jumped in.
Stewart: Yes! You make the trade! You deal Garoppolo for a first round pick no matter where it is. I don't think he's the next guy. I think he's a bust.
Listen for Felger's answer and the full conversation below: