Jimmy Garoppolo might not get traded after all. Here’s how that changes the QB market.

Well, that’s it. The offseason is ruined. Adam Schefter just killed one of the more exciting rumors that was going to propel many a column and maybe even put the Browns’ perpetual rebuilding effort over the hump.

The Patriots are not expected to trade Jimmy Garoppolo, per Schefter.

We’ve been talking about this potential trade since September, maybe even a little before that, but speculation really picked up steam when he helped the Patriots win their first two games of the season without Tom Brady.

There’s one more possibility to consider here, because it’s that time of year in the NFL when truth becomes a little more pliable concept than usual. And this is the Patriots we’re talking about here, a franchise shrouded in a perpetual cloud of foggy disinformation. This could all be a strategy intended to drive up the asking price.

It’s a basic human concept. What better way to make someone want something than to tell them that they can’t have it.

New England reportedly wanted a first-round pick for Garoppolo, a reasonable asking price. He’s at least as good as any of the quarterbacks expected to be drafted in the first round, and he’s already been vetted by a pretty good NFL team. If any potential suitor was on the fence about paying that, this could send the signal that they’ll have to if they want to make a deal.

And since Schefter alluded to the ripple effect on the QB market this spring, let’s take a few lines to grapple with that.

What do the Bears and Browns do now?

These two teams are the ones most often linked to Garoppolo.

Cleveland is perpetually in need of a quarterback. But Garoppolo wasn’t the Browns’ only option. They have RG3 and Cody Kessler under contract. Griffin is a little on the pricey side given his constant state of injury, but the Browns can afford it with an estimated $107 million in cap space this year. Kessler met the “good enough” standard last year too, so he could be part of a bridge if the team chooses to draft and develop a rookie this year.

The Bears are in a tougher spot. The only quarterback they have under contract is Jay Cutler, and they’re expected to release him if they can’t find a trade partner. Given the mandate to rebuild in Chicago, keeping Cutler seems like a stretch. And they’re not in a position to lure a last-chance veteran like Tony Romo who’d be looking for a “win now” situation to wind down his career.

Chicago could always use the draft to procure a quarterback. They’ll almost certainly have to anyway. But if they can’t swing a deal for Garoppolo, it could be more likely that they’ll draft one with the third overall pick.

AJ McCarron’s trade value just went up

The undercard on the QB trade market this year is Cincinnati’s backup. Before the Garoppolo news, he was expected to fetch a second- or third-round pick, if the Bengals did opt to trade him. Now, they could potentially get more out of a desperate team like Chicago or San Francisco.

More demand for Colin Kaepernick & Tyrod Taylor

It wasn’t all that long ago that Kap was one of the brightest young stars in the league. And then he got consumed by the Jed York fault line that swallowed whatever good the 49ers once had. He’s opting out of his contract.

With a big arm and an outstanding ability as a rusher, there’s bound to be a team or two convinced that he can recapture his form.

Tyrod Taylor could be in a similar situation, assuming the Bills decide to release him. And it sounds like they will after Sean McDermott’s non-answer answer to that question on Wednesday morning at the combine.

Keep an eye on Mike Glennon

Yes, remember him? His value gets a boost now with Garoppolo off the market. The soon-to-be former Buccaneer could now reasonably ask for as much as $15 million per season in free agency.

His best bet is probably to land somewhere as a backup behind an established starter (I always thought Arizona behind Carson Palmer was a natural fit). Now, he’s even more likely to hold out for a real chance to be the starter somewhere.

Tougher offseason for the Bills, Jets, and Texans

With the Bears and Browns having to, maybe, look elsewhere for a quarterback, that gives these three teams even more competition in a limited pool of candidates. Buffalo and Houston will most certainly be looking for more established players, the kind of veterans to help them contend this year.

The Texans have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Romo, but there have also been a few rumors about the potential for chasing Garoppolo, since he’d be a low cost option to paste over last year’s biggest free agent bust, Brock Osweiler. There’s no way they’ll be suitors for Garoppolo given what this could do to drive up the Patriots’ asking price.

The Jets are in rebuilding mode, so they’ll most likely need a bridge guy to either get them by while a draft pick develops or to be the steady hand backing up that youngster. That’s going to cost them more money now.