The New England Patriots have kept their cards close to the chest this off-season, but many NFL analysts believe that at least one quarterback acquisition is on the horizon.
After losing franchise legend Tom Brady in the 2020 NFL off-season, the Patriots replaced him with Mac Jones and didn’t miss a beat.
Jones led the team to a postseason berth in year one, and fans wondered if the New England dynasty would keep chugging along.
Then, the wheels fell off for Jones. He regressed mightily, while the roster did him no favors, leading to back-to-back seasons with an under .500 record.
This regression led to the Patriots parting ways with future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick. In his place, owner Robert Kraft hired Jerod Mayo as the team’s next head coach.
5 NFL quarterback options for the Patriots this off-season
It’s now up to Mayo to bring the franchise back to its typical heights. And the first step is finding a cornerstone quarterback to build the roster around.
Drake Maye (North Carolina)
The Patriots could model their next build off of the previous one by selecting a tall, statuesque passer from the pocket in Drake Maye.
Maye is surgical downfield, often displaying perfect ball placement and hitting his receivers in stride to increase yardage after the catch.
“You don’t want to game plan for me — you want to game plan with me.”I caught up with North Carolina QB Drake Maye at the combine for @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/q2fJR2yUCE
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 1, 2024
To Maye’s credit, he is more athletic than Brady and has the prowess to move the chains as a runner. He’s an all-around threat that would be the ideal building block for New England.
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Jayden Daniels (LSU)
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels, is as intriguing as it gets for an NFL Draft prospect. He boasts the best deep ball in the class and is easily the most dangerous runner.
"The moment is never too big for Jayden Daniels."@HermEdwards would go with his former QB in the NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/yZZzcqktfO
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 23, 2024
Daniels is still raw as a processor, but with the Patriots, he could learn the ropes and grow throughout his rookie year. As far as upside goes, no one can match his potential.
J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Like Daniels, J.J. McCarthy is a dual-threat running back with plenty of room to grow. Unlike Daniels, McCarthy is a full two years younger.
"I think the most interesting player in the draft is going to be JJ McCarthy"—@ColinCowherd on what NFL executives are saying about the former Michigan QB pic.twitter.com/XJYMBAJVop
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 1, 2024
The Patriots could view the Michigan signal-caller as a ball of clay they can mold into a high-end starter. All the traits are there.
Kirk Cousins (Vikings)
Kirk Cousins is an option if the Patriots go down the veteran route. While Cousins wants to stay in Minnesota, there’s a chance the Vikings will move on this off-season.
Kirk Cousins is recovering well from his Achilles tear 👀pic.twitter.com/K0ydsK6IMt
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) February 26, 2024
Even if New England takes a quarterback early in the draft, pairing them with Cousins for a season or two and letting them develop could be the best of both worlds.
Russell Wilson (Broncos)
Russell Wilson is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who could be left without a team this off-season. The Patriots make sense if Wilson wants to rebound his stock with an established organization.
“Over the next 5 years, I wanna win 2 [Super Bowls]” -Russell Wilsonpic.twitter.com/rKQ59iPv9o
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 25, 2024
Wilson’s best years are behind him, but as he proved in 2023, he’s still a top-tier game manager and a steady veteran presence in the locker room. Someone like McCarthy could learn a lot from Wilson.