Why did the New England Patriots trade Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers for a mere second-round pick, one that has decreased in value over the last month precisely because Garoppolo was so effective in San Francisco?
It was a puzzler since the trade occurred and one an ESPN piece this addressed.
For one, according to author Seth Wickersham, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, had great respect for Kyle Shanahan and his father, Mike, even meeting with Kyle at last year's combine a few weeks after the Patriots had defeated Shanahan's Falcons in the Super Bowl. Belichick called Shanahan in late October just before the trade.