New England Patriots: 5 Quarterbacks who could take over in 2021

New England Patriots 2021 QB option No. 3: Jimmy Garoppolo

Another veteran quarterback who appears to be on the way out of his current situation with his team in 2020 is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

If that indeed happens and Garoppolo ends up playing elsewhere in 2021 and for the rest of his NFL career, would it make sense for New England to take a chance on bringing the former Patriots backup quarterback back to Foxborough to lead the offense moving forward? It could certainly be a possibility.

In 2017, San Francisco traded for Garroppolo to take things over of the 49ers offense, sending a second-round draft pick to New England in return for the quarterback. The 49ers then awarded him with a five-year, $137.5 million contract after he got off to a hot start with his new squad that season.

Garoppolo, who played in New England as a backup to Brady from 2014-16, is in his fourth season in San Francisco in 2020 and has been relatively solid for the 49ers with the exception of this year. Garoppolo notably helped San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance in 2019, only to fall to the eventual champions Kansas City Chiefs in that game.

In his seventh season in the NFL in 2020, the 29-year-old quarterback has managed to take the field for just six games due to injury issues that have sidelined him for most of the regular season.

With his contract situation and his place over the last year or so, that might be enough for the 49ers to try and part ways with Garoppolo this offseason. If that happens, the Patriots should come calling to try and bring the veteran quarterback back to where it all started in New England in 2021.