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Meet Tom Brady's successor, Jimmy Garoppolo

Yahoo Sports
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is congratulated after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is congratulated after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is congratulated after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
  • Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo tries out his putting skills during an NFL event in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The event was to promote Play 60, an NFL program which encourages kids to be active for a healthy life. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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    Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo tries out his putting skills during an NFL event in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The event was to promote Play 60, an NFL program which encourages kids to be active for a healthy life. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

    Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo tries out his putting skills during an NFL event in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The event was to promote Play 60, an NFL program which encourages kids to be active for a healthy life. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sits on the bench before run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sits on the bench before run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sits on the bench before run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

    Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is congratulated after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts after being selected as the 62nd pick by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Friday, May 9, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo tries out his putting skills during an NFL event in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The event was to promote Play 60, an NFL program which encourages kids to be active for a healthy life. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sits on the bench before run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The past few years, when the New England Patriots drafted quarterbacks like Matt Cassel or Ryan Mallett, it never seemed like they would be Tom Brady's successor. Brady still had many years left and the other quarterbacks weren't drafted that high.

But Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo might be the guy to become that trivia answer.

Garoppolo was taken by New England with the 62nd overall pick, near the end of the second round. That's the highest the Patriots have drafted a quarterback since Brady become the starter. Brady is going to be 37 in August. Do the math.
— Frank Schwab