Jimmy Garoppolo trade: NFL reacts to surprising deal between the Patriots and 49ers

The 49ers needed a quarterback, and now they’ve got one who could be the team’s answer at the position. In an unexpected development a day before the NFL trade deadline, the Niners swapped a 2018 second-round pick with the Patriots to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo was set to hit free agency following the 2017 season. The 49ers filled their biggest need, and the Patriots got something out of it, too. It would have been difficult to re-sign him to continue to be the never-retiring Tom Brady’s backup. So instead of seeing him walk, New England gets a valuable draft pick.

The trade works well for both sides, except it leaves the Patriots completely without a backup quarterback for the time being. Brady has been fortunate to stay mostly healthy throughout his long career, but obviously the Patriots are going to need to add a quarterback.

The trade came together in less than 24 hours, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 49ers and Patriots just started discussing the trade Monday morning and pulled it off that evening. It was a surprise, to say the least. Fans of both teams, players, and members of the media reacted to the trade after the news broke.

Danny Amendola wished his former teammate well.

Retired Patriots receiver Andrew Hawkins notes that the Patriots do need a backup now.

Patriots cornerback Johnson Bademosi agrees.

49ers wide receiver Pierre Garçon looks pretty happy about the move.

Retired Patriots tackle Sebastian Vollmer was sorry to see Garoppolo go.

Rich Hill at Pats Pulpit thinks the move shows confidence in Brady.

Trading Garoppolo signifies that the Patriots believe that Brady is capable of playing at a high level for a couple more seasons and the team will try to take advantage of a deep class of quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft to give them a couple years to grow behind Brady.

David Fucillo at Niners Nation expects the 49ers to extend Garoppolo.

Schefter reported the 49ers and Patriots were talking trade earlier Monday, and by this afternoon, the deal had come together. This officially removes Kirk Cousins from the equation for the 49ers. Garoppolo is signed through this season, and I imagine the 49ers will look to get an extension done sooner rather than later. And if the 49ers are not able to get a deal done, they have the option of placing the franchise tag on him.

The Browns must have some serious quarterback remorse today.

Once again, the Patriots are the kings of the trade deadline.

We’ll update with more reactions as people continue to discuss the biggest trade of the season.