Here we are again. The New England Patriots are once again in the hunt for a quarterback solution as the offseason really begins to heat up.
Considering the team went nearly 20 years without a question at quarterback is both remarkable and unheard of in the NFL. So, with so many options out there via trade, free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft, what direction will Bill Belichick go in?
Will he bring back Cam Newton and give him another shot?
Well, that romance definitely needs to end given what we saw in 2020.
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All respect to Cam, but he was just not the right fit for the offense. And while Jarrett Stidham could possibly play his way back into the graces of the coaching staff, the Patriots have a hole to fill, and it will be fun over the next few weeks to see what a very motivated Belichick does.
With a ton of cap space, let’s take a glance at what’s out there in free agency. Here are 3 intriguing options who could at least be the starting quarterback at the start of the 2021 NFL season.
New England Patriots free agent QB targets: Jacoby Brissett
There could be a reunion in New England not named Jimmy Garoppolo.
Just 28 years old and with more starting quarterback experience under his belt, Jacoby Brissett is an intriguing free agent quarterback option because he knows the Patriots system and is a mixture of Garoppolo and Cam Newton.
In that, what I mean he can do a lot of the things Cam did in 2020 with his feet, but he also has the ability to throw the ball effectively as we seen the year, he started 15 games for the Indianapolis Colts.
In that 2019 NFL season, Brissett had a 60.9 percent percentage ranking, throwing for 2,942 yards with 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
While he didn’t start any games in 2020, other teams may view the Brissett as a solid backup option, but with the Patriots he could have an opportunity to start for a season or two given the team’s firsthand knowledge of what he can do for them and his knowledge of the offense.
In summary, Jacoby Brissett to New England wouldn’t be a complete shock, but it would likely mean the Patriots have drafted a quarterback they truly believe in and want to groom for a season or two.
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.
New England Patriots free agent QB targets: Jameis Winston
Ranked as the best free agent quarterback behind Dak Prescott, the former first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft would be intriguing because of his age, size and overall talent.
In Bill Belichick wants a younger quarterback who can help the team win now, then Jameis Winston does make sense on multiple levels.
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Behinds basically swapping starting quarterbacks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Patriots would have to believe they can fine tune Winston into the winning quarterback he was in college when he led Florida State to the National Championship game.
Yes, I know Winston played in New Orleans last year, but the last season he started was in 2019 with the Buccaneers. Surrounded by just about the same talent Tom Brady had, Winston threw for over 5,000 yards with 33 touchdowns. The only problem was the 30 interceptions.
If Belichick and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can limit those mistakes (as well as the off-the-field drams), the 27-year-old quarterback can turn into something special and led the Patriots for years to come.
Now, is he a “Perfect fit”?
As Pro Football Focus writer Seth Galina wrote, he may not be perfect coming in, but can be molded into the right fit for the Patriots.
"“Dak Prescott is the best choice,” Galina wrote, via Boston.com. “But the chance of him becoming available is pretty slim. So, this move really comes down to Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jameis Winston. If it’s Fitzpatrick, then it’s a stopgap until they find their next true quarterback. With Winston, Bill Belichick might believe he can be the one who molds him into a real NFL quarterback.”"
Surround him with supreme talent and the right installation of motivation aka the Patriot Way, and Winston suddenly becomes not only an intriguing free agent option, but he would become the answer for years to come.