I dont know if Id call him a wasting asset. He provides value next year backing up a 40 year old quarterback and providing insurance against a 40 year old quarterback. There's a reasonable chance they could go the Cassel route and get some value next offseason (or a comp pick). I dont know if the Pats move him this offseason, but I would guess they dont do it without a 1st rounder being involved.
Wasting asset from the standpoint of moving him -- now until the 2017 draft is the time to max trade value.
Of course, he has value as a back-up to a 40 year old QB. A lot of value, potentially season-saving value, and I would weigh that significantly. But then you are in comp pick territory after the 2017 season, when he is off his contract. And that may be the best outcome for us.
Edit. These are the franchise and transition tag numbers for 2016. They will go up next year and, one assumes, in 2018 as well, when JG would be an unrestricted free agent.
Quarterback: $19,953,000 $17,696,000
The transition tag gets you bupkis -- a right to match, which the Pats would never do if JG has the value everyone believes.
Franchising a back-up at these levels -- probably close to $27 million by 2018 -- out of the question. That tag would be applied only if the Pats intended to move on from Brady that season.