NFL analyst, Mike Lombardi, praised New England Patriots quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Lombardi, who spent over 30 years in the National Football League as an executive, now works with sports personality, Bill Simmons, on his The Ringer podcast. On a Wednesday episode of the podcast, Simmons questioned backup Patriots quarterback, Garoppolo, and whether he might be traded. Garoppolo was thrown into the fire this season with the suspension of Tom Brady.

“[Garoppolo] wasn’t going to get annihilated,” said Lombardi. “The guy was too good. He was too good of a player. I’ve watched this guy practice and play for too many practices. This guy is a good player. I’m not shilling for Belichick. I’m not trying to get him more of a draft pick, because look, I know this player. This player is really good. Of course, that’s exactly what someone shilling for Belichick would say.”

Lombardi related the story of the Patriots drafting Garoppolo and how badly they wanted the signal caller.

“Now, we were in the draft room. We thought Houston was going to pick (Garoppolo) with their high pick in the second round,” recalled Lombardi. “Instead, they picked that guard from UCLA (Xavier Su’a-Filo). What a sigh of relief that was. If Houston turns in Garoppolo’s name instead of the guard from UCLA, it’s a whole different ballgame. I’m telling you. People can say, ‘Oh don’t’ — I’m telling you, he’s worth — he’s worth the Patriots to hold onto him.”