The QB2 position over the last decade

[ctpatsfan77]

Just some food for thought for those who want to trade Garoppolo:

1. The Pats are willing to have only players on their rookie deals backing up TFB. In fact, the last time they had a veteran QB on the roster in Week 1 was 2005 (Flutie).
2. The Pats are willing to have a single rookie backing up TFB. They've done it twice—with Hoyer in 2009 and Garoppolo in 2014.
3. The Pats have not yet been willing to enter TC with a rookie slotted in the QB2 position.

Here's the list:

• 2005: Pats draft Cassel, sign Flutie to help mentor him.
• 2007: Pats like Matt Gutierrez, but keep Cassel, too.
• 2008: Pats draft O'Connell, with Cassel slotted as QB2.
• 2009: Pats sign UDFA Hoyer, with O'Connell slotted as QB2. Hoyer beats out O'Connell in TC.
• 2011: Pats draft Mallett, with Hoyer slotted as QB2.
• 2014: Pats draft Garoppolo, with Mallett as QB2. Garoppolo beats out Mallett in TC.

If the Pats trade Garoppolo before the season begins, then you're basically expecting that either they will somehow find a competent backup QB among the remaining dregs, or that they'll expect the rookie they inevitably pick up to come in and hold down the QB2 position from day one. The former is complicated by the fact that two of the three experienced vets are signed (Cassel, Mallett) and the other (Hoyer) is unlikely to get a better offer from New England than elsewhere.

While "never say never" obviously applies, historical evidence suggests that this isn't how the Pats roll.