FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots signed second-round draft choice QB Jimmy Garoppolo to four-year contract on Monday.
Garoppolo was the top player in FBS last season at Eastern Illinois, winning the Walter Payton Award. He is likely to be New England’s third quarterback behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett.
Chosen 62nd overall, Garoppolo started in all 45 games that he appeared in at Eastern Illinois, the same school that produced Dallas QB Tony Romo. Garoppolo completed 1,047 of 1,668 passes for 13,151 yards and 118 touchdowns. As a senior, he threw for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns.
New England has signed eight of its nine draft picks, with only first-round defensive tackle Dominique Easley of Florida unsigned.
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