Whenever Seth Wickersham reveals a tidbit from his new book, "It's Better to Be Feared," examining the New England Patriots dynasty, Tom Brady, and his departure from the team, it always seems specifically directed at 49ers fans. And no, I'm not exaggerating.
Earlier today, more news from Wickersham's book was revealed via ESPN scout Matt Miller, where it was reported that the Patriots allegedly offered a second-round pick for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on Day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, to which the 49ers said no because they desired a first-rounder in return. The Patriots remained in the first round, selecting Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick, while the 49ers took Trey Lance after trading up to the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
In @SethWickersham's book, he reports that the Patriots called the 49ers asking about Jimmy Garoppolo's trade value on Day 1 of the draft. New England reportedly offered a 2nd; San Francisco wanted a 1st
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 27, 2021
Last month, Wickersham revealed that during the 2020 free agency period, Tom Brady, who was born in San Mateo, California, desired a return to the Bay Area and had the 49ers as his top destination. However, the 49ers felt comfortable at the time, having recently extended Garoppolo, and felt that the bridge between the two former New England Patriots quarterbacks wasn't significant enough to garner a change at the position.
Brady has gone on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team he ultimately chose, and is aiming for a repeat, while the 49ers have gone just 8-14 since the move.
Jimmy Garoppolo has been under heavy scrutiny from 49ers fans, despite constant reassurances from head coach Kyle Shanahan that he is QB1, as he has gone just 2-3 this season (Lance started a game) while facing yet another lower-body injury with a calf contusion in Week 4.
With the 29-year old still on the books for $27.5 million, it would be safe to say that this 49er team would have a much different outlook had that trade for a second-rounder gone through.
In addition, it wasn't shocking news that the 49ers were active in the quarterback market, given the controversy surrounding Shanahan and Matt LaFleur with Aaron Rodgers, calls for Matthew Stafford, and even the reported interest in bridge quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco in the offseason.
Despite all of the unknowns, San Francisco stuck with Garoppolo and plan to continue starting him, as Shanahan announced the decision earlier this week following some hesitancy after the 49ers' loss on Sunday night to the Colts.
For the sake of all 49ers fans, let's hope that the next drop of information from Wickersham's book doesn't come any time soon.