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New England Patriots rumors: 3 intriguing free agent quarterback targets

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Jan 17, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) prior to kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) prior to kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots
NFL free agency Andy Dalton. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

New England Patriots free agent QB targets: Andy Dalton

Like Jacoby Brissett, veteran free agent quarterback Andy Dalton would be transition quarterback.

At the age of 33, his best years seem to be behind him, but the right head coach and the right system could turn back the clock a little on a quarterback who is a competitive football player.

In 2020 with the Dallas Cowboys, Dalton threw for 3,494 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.  With a much more talented group of playmakers than Cam Newton had with the Patriots last season, one may ask why Dalton is an intriguing option.

He is intriguing because he encompasses all the elements Bill Belichick looks for in a quarterback.  In fact, the Patriots head coach believes the Red Rifle has some untapped potential as he said back in 2020 when those Dalton-to-Patriots rumors first started to gain heat.

"“Several teams have mentioned to me that the Patriots’ reported interest in Dalton is even real,” Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report wrote.  “Bill Belichick, like others around the league, believes Dalton has untapped potential and that it’s been hard to decipher how truly good or bad he is because he’s played in Cincinnati.”"

If Belichick truly believes this, it would be interesting to see what that “untapped potential” could look like in a New England Patriots uniform.

He certainly has the arm and veteran experience to be an upgrade over what the team got out of Cam Newton in 2020, but it only works or brings intrigue to the Patriots offense if Belichick goes all in on bringing in some top-level playmaking talent.

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