New England Patriots Position Grades: Quarterback
Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down each position group for the New England Patriots and providing an overall grade for that group. The players will also be placed in order of skill level.
Segment 1: Quarterbacks
Tom Brady: As the leader in playoff pass completions, yards, and touchdowns in the history of the league, you do not get better than this. He also has more game winning drives and comebacks in the playoffs than any other quarterback in history. Coming off his fourth Super Bowl victory, despite aging, all of your faith can still be placed in Tom Brady.
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Garoppolo: The second year kid out of Eastern Illinois finished the 2014 season with a higher completion percentage and quarterback rating than the almighty Tom Brady. OK, that may be because he only threw 27 passes in the regular season, but still, he showed promise. The New England Patriots spent a second round pick on Jimmy Garoppolo making him the highest drafted quarterback in the Bill Belichick era and the highest since the team drafted Drew Bledsoe in the third round of the 1993 draft. There are high hopes for Garoppolo and he has arguably the greatest expectations of any backup QB in the NFL.
Matt Flynn: Tom Brady, as of now, is suspended for the start of the season. This forced a third serviceable QB to be added to the Patriots roster, so on June 12 the Patriots signed veteran journeyman Matt Flynn. Flynn is most famous for starting the already impressive legacy of Russell Wilson. After having an impressive start to his career as Aaron Rodgers’ back up in Green Bay, Flynn was one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the 2012 free agency. He wound up signing a three-year, $26 million contract, only to be beat out of the position by Wilson who was a third round pick in that years draft. The Patriots will be the fifth team Flynn has played for. The Patriots aren’t known for holding on to three quarterbacks though so Flynn will have to really impress to hold a spot on roster once Brady’s suspension comes to an end.
Quarterback Group Grade: A+. The Patriots have a top five quarterback, a top five backup quarterback, and a depth quarterback trying to salvage his career. This is the best situation a team can be in at the position coming into a season.