New England Patriots 53-man 2018 Roster Projection v1.0: Quarterbacks
By Hal Bent
QUARTERBACK: (2)
Starter: Tom Brady
Back-up(s): Brian Hoyer
Roster Bubble Boy(s): Danny Etling
Analysis:
Thanks to running future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo out of town, it is the Tom Brady show for the foreseeable future in Foxboro. Despite the controversy this offseason with whether he would return in 2018 (the most unnecessary drama of the offseason by far), Brady–despite staying away from the voluntary offseason OTAs–will be back and back to his normal high-level of play.
Brady was a Pro Bowl, first team All-Pro selection and won the league MVP throwing for an average of 286.1 yards per game and 32 touchdowns at age 40 (all statistics from Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted). In addition he took his team to a third Super Bowl in four seasons (and set a Super Bowl record with 505 yards passing) while putting up just another season with ridiculous passing statistics despite having lost his top target Julian Edelman in the preseason.
Eventually there will be a decline in the play of Brady. The end seemed near in 2013 when he threw for just 25 touchdowns and had 11 interceptions while completing just 60.5% of his passes. That year may have been more to do with a lack of weapons as Rob Gronkowski played just seven games. Danny Amendola fought injuries in his first season and Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Austin Collie all were counted on to start and play key roles throughout the season. The only bright spot was the emergence of Edelman that season.
Brady should have plenty of weapons this season even with Amendola and Dion Lewis leaving in free agency and Brandin Cooks being traded away this offseason. Edelman returns and if healthy Malcolm Mitchell could bring an outside receiving threat. Gronkowski returns and a combination of Chris Hogan, Jordan Matthews, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Rex Burkhead and James White should give him plenty of playmakers. Add in first-round draft pick Sony Michel as a playmaker in the passing game and Brady should maintain his role as a top three quarterback.