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          NFL Nation

          How Bill Belichick helped the Jets by trading Jimmy Garoppolo

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterOct 31, 2017, 06:00 AM ET
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Oh, the irony.

          The New York Jets' annual quarterback search, which commences in a few months, received a boost from an unlikely source on Monday night:

          The Hoodie.

          Bill Belichick's stunning decision to trade backup Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers will impact the offseason quarterback market, and the Jets will be in that market, front and center.

          The Jets should send a bouquet of flowers (and maybe some cupcakes) to Belichick at One Patriot Place. Their longtime tormentor actually did them a favor by trading away Tom Brady's heir apparent.

          Here's how the trade helps the Jets:

          1. With Garoppolo, the 49ers won't be in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The 49ers were thought to be a likely landing spot for Cousins (if he becomes a free agent) because of his past association with coach Kyle Shanahan. If the Jets decide to go the free-agent route (they will have at least $80 million in cap room), they will have one fewer team to bid against -- and the 49ers would have been formidable with $100 million in cap space. General manager Mike Maccagnan likes Cousins and could consider him if he doesn't care for his draft options.

          2. There will be one fewer quarterback-needy team at the top of the draft. The winless 49ers probably will pick first or second, but they won't have to draft Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen or Josh Allen (if they declare). If the 49ers are smart, they'll put the pick up for sale. Imagine a bidding war between the Jets and the New York Giants, both of whom probably will have top-10 picks to swap.

          3. The trade disrupts the New England Patriots' chain of succession. For years, everyone assumed Garoppolo would succeed Brady, giving the Patriots the potential for long-term stability at the sport's most important position. Now all they have is the 40-year-old Brady, whose health is more important than ever. When he's done, their dynasty is over, infusing the rest of the AFC East with hope. Dilly, dilly.

          Unless Belichick uses the second-round pick from San Francisco and packages it to trade up for Darnold. That would be typical, right? I'm kidding, of course. I think.