most likely
a top 2nd rd pick for a guy they were going to lose anyway
Patriots tried to sign Jimmy Garoppolo to an extension, but it was “too difficult”
The Patriots couldn’t reach a deal with their back-up quarterback. "His contract was going to be up, and New England had made efforts to sign him, re-sign him. I think the more they talked, the more they recognized that it was going to be too difficult to re-sign him.
“And so rather than have him walk away after the season ends, they decided to make the move now, to trade him for a second-round draft pick. Had he left, they could have got a compensatory draft pick. It would have been a high pick, but that also would limit their flexibility in free agency with players they could and could not bring in.”
https://www.patspulpit.com/2017/10/...polo-to-an-extension-but-it-was-too-difficult