Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo probably has been discussed more than any other backup quarterback in Super Bowl history because of trade possibilities.

(AP)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During a Super Bowl LI press conference this week, Kyle Shanahan talked about Jimmy Garoppolo -- a lot.

The current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator was asked about the quarterbacks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Shanahan indicated his favorites were Derek Carr and Garoppolo.

Once the Super Bowl is over, Shanahan officially becomes the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. His new team will be drafting second, right behind the Browns, and his new team needs a quarterback.

Shanahan was lavish in his praise of Garoppolo, who is currently the New England Patriots' backup QB. Let's stop for a moment and consider the situation, starting with why New England would want to trade Garoppolo.

1. Tom Brady is 39, but remains a brilliant quarterback. This season, he threw 28 TD passes compared to only two interceptions. He said he wants to play until he's 45. He certainly looks capable of at least a few more years.

2. Brady is under contract for three more seasons at about $21 million annually, meaning under control by the Patriots through the 2019 season.

3. Garoppolo will be a free agent after the 2017 season. If the Patriots keep him as Brady's backup, after the season he probably will be in demand by a lot of teams. His price tag to stay with the Patriots will be high.

4. The Patriots could try to sign him, but that would be like spending for a second starting quarterback. The same if they used the franchise tag on him.

5. The Patriots have another young quarterback. Jacoby Brissett was a rookie in 2016, and the Patriots do like him.

6. Coach Bill Belichick likes to draft quarterbacks and then trade them a few years later. He did that with Matt Cassell and Ryan Mallett.

7. Belichick probably will trade Garoppolo if he can secure a first-round pick -- or even a pair of second-round picks. Belichick likes to pile picks over several years in trades. And he likes to draft a quarterback most years.

8. Garoppolo has been in the NFL for three seasons. He didn't start a game in 2014 and 2015. When Brady was suspended to start this season, Garoppolo played four quarters against Arizona, two against Miami before suffering a strained shoulder. In those six quarters, he was impressive -- four TDs, zero interceptions and completed 71 percent of his passes.

9. After those six quarters, Garoppolo threw only four more passes. Once Brady returned, Brady played.

10. After Garoppolo was hurt, Brissett took over. He played 10 quarters in three games without a TD pass or interception. The Patriots played conservatively, running the ball a lot. The rookie from North Carolina State was 34-of-55 passing, 62 percent.

11. With Brissett starting, New England beat Houston 27-0 before losing 16-0 to Buffalo. Brissett's production was not close to Garoppolo. That's worth mentioning, because it showed some of Garoppolo's success was not simply being a part of New England's offense. He had to make some plays.

12. Brissett suffered a thumb injury in the victory over Houston. He played with a bad hand in the loss to Buffalo -- and then had thumb surgery. So it's not fair to judge him based on the Buffalo game.

13. Belichick likes to maximize his assets. Maybe Garoppolo will be terrific as a starter elsewhere. Or maybe he'll just be average. Who really knows? That's part of why Garoppolo's value is is high -- the mystery. If Belichick knew Garoppolo was the next Brady or a star, it's doubtful he'd make a trade. But who really does know?

WHAT IS SHANAHAN'S GAME?

As the new coach of San Francisco, Shanahan will take over a 2-14 team. Last season, the 49ers opened with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, then turned to Colin Kaepernick. Like the Browns, they are looking for a starter.

Kaepernick has a $14 million option for 2017, and the 49ers are not expected to pick it up. So he is expected to be elsewhere in 2017.

I wonder if Shanahan really likes Garoppolo as much as he claims. Perhaps he does. But as the coach of a team looking for a quarterback, it would seem the 49ers would be in the market for Garoppolo.

A coach sounding in football love with Garoppolo would make the price even higher. Or perhaps, Shanahan likes Garoppolo, but doesn't want to trade for him. Perhaps he plans to simply draft what he considers the best quarterback available at No. 2.

To obtain Garoppolo, he'd have to trade picks and then sign him to an lucrative contract extension.

He also may believe the Browns won't pick a quarterback at No. 1. That would set up the 49ers to take their preferred choice.

ABOUT SHANAHAN AND THE BROWNS

There have been so many turning points in the Browns franchise since 1999, virtually all leading to dead ends.

But a big one was the 2014 draft. That's where the Browns did more than pick Johnny Manziel over quarterbacks such as Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater and Garoppolo. They also wasted the No. 8 pick on defensive back Justin Gilbert, who couldn't get on the field for long with the Browns (2014-15) or Steelers (2016).

Ray Farmer had become the general manager. The Browns opened the 2014 season at 7-4. But Farmer was breaking NFL rules by texting people on the sidelines. The draft was a mess.

Manziel made everyone's life miserable. The Browns lost their last five games. Manziel, Gilbert and Josh Gordon were basically suspended for the final game of the season for various transgressions.

At the end of the season, Shanahan put together a 32-point memo for head coach Mike Pettine. Those were the reasons Shanahan wanted out. It was the texting, the conflict between the front offices and coaches ... and having to coach players such as Manziel.

Shanahan has long wanted to be a head coach. He knew that wasn't going to happen in Cleveland. So he tried to get out of his contract, and the Browns allowed him to leave.

Shanahan wisely hooked up with Atlanta and quarterback Matt Ryan. Two years later, he is the coach of the 49ers. Had he remained in Cleveland, he probably would have been fired with all the other Browns coaches after the 2015 season.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW DRAFT

For all the disasters, the Browns are in position to be a much better team next season. I know, that's not saying much after a 1-15 season. But the moves made by the front office do offer some hope:

1. I like Hue Jackson as a coach. I know he can be productive with a decent quarterback. He has shown that in Oakland and Cincinnati, where he called plays and won games with Jason Campbell and Andy Dalton.

2. I like Gregg Williams as a defensive coordinator. In a few stories, I have outlined how he improved every defense where he was in charge for at least two years.

3. I like the fact they re-signed Jamie Collins before he hit the open market. Collins is a very good linebacker, the kind of player the Browns need to retain.

4. In the 2014 draft, the Browns turned 10 picks into six selections. Only Chris Kirksey and Joel Bitonio remain from that draft. Yet, the Browns front office had 14 picks in 2016. I know many didn't work out, but I also know it's too early to write off several of them. I'd rather pick 14 than pick six, as they did in 2014.

5. The Browns currently have eight picks in 2017. That includes five in the first 65 selections. They have No. 1 and 12 in the first round.

6. The Browns might receive up to four compensation picks -- making the total 12. It will be at least 11 in 2017.

7. I know, they can mess up the picks. They can mess up free agency. If there is a football mess to be made, the Browns seem to make it. But I also know the only way for this team to ever improve is with a high volume of picks and starting to find players in the draft.

8. So why am I very cautiously upbeat about the Browns? Because the general plan is the correct one. We'll see if they can make it work. And as a baseball executive once told me, "I envy how the NFL sells hope better than any other league because of its draft."