Patriots: Ranking the likelihood of NE landing these QBs for 2021 season

Who’s most likely to end up under center for the Patriots in 2021?

By missing the playoffs, the New England Patriots will have had extra time to sort through potential additions — whether it be through free agency, trade or the draft — they want to make by the time the new league year starts.

When it comes to the quarterback position, they figure to have no shortage of options. That, of course, is excluding the free agent market, unless the Patriots want to pursue a few middling options like Mitchell Trubisky, Andy Dalton or Ryan Fitzpatrick.

We hear your rebuttal that Dak Prescott is currently not under contract, but he’s given no evidence to suggest that he wants to play anywhere but Dallas. Because of that, he’ll likely either get tagged yet again or defy the odds and ink a long-term extension in the coming weeks/months.

Based on the latest rumors, we’ve identified a handful of quarterbacks who could potentially be under center for the Patriots come training camp. To avoid revealing their names, we’ve gone ahead and ranked them in order of the likelihood that they end up in New England.

6. Cam Newton

Could re-signing Cam Newton be the Patriots’ contingency plan this offseason?

We know what you’re thinking: it was widely reported before the season finale that Cam Newton and the Patriots mutually agreed to go their separate ways after their lone year together, why on earth would they ever consider re-signing him after that leaked? In a nutshell, that’s a valid point.

However, we wouldn’t be so quick to rule out a potential reunion if all else fails this offseason, especially since Bill Belichick walked back the “report” of their relationship’s demise immediately. Think about it for a second. Given his familiarity with the playbook, roster and overall culture of the team, wouldn’t running it back with Newton under center be a tremendous fallback option?

If the Patriots swing and miss on all of their alternative options, don’t be surprised if Newton ends up back with the team in 2021. However, considering that’s extremely unlikely, we simply had no business ranking him anywhere other than last on this list.

5. Zach Wilson

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson has risen up draft boards in recent weeks.

Armed with the No. 15 overall pick, it’s extremely possible that the Patriots decide to draft a quarterback. It remains to be seen who will be available by that selection, but there’s growing speculation that as many as four (!) gunslingers could be taken within the first eight picks.

If that happens, the Patriots can kiss their chances of drafting BYU sensation Zach Wilson goodbye. However, if they fall head over heels for him, they could feel inclined to pull off a blockbuster deal to move up and nab him. Such a trade would no doubt cost them a bounty of picks, but given how highly seemingly every draft scout rates Wilson, we would definitely sign off on the front office pressing the issue to land their supposed quarterback of the future.

With all of that being said, however, the Patriots could sit tight at No. 15 and still be able to draft one of the consensus top prospects in the 2021 class. Because of that, it’s hard to picture a scenario in which Wilson calls Gillette Stadium his NFL home.

4. Deshaun Watson

Do the Patriots have the requisite assets to trade for Deshaun Watson?

Fans in New England were no doubt hoping that Deshaun Watson would rank No. 1 on this list, but we have to be objective with our analysis. As things stand, almost everyone would agree that it’s become a matter of when (not if) he waives his no-trade clause amid his falling out with the Texans, who have quickly become the poster child for how not to treat a franchise quarterback.

If that comes to fruition, the Patriots will have to compete with a multitude of teams and the fact of the matter is that they probably couldn’t even make a more compelling offer than the Jets, who have stocked up on draft capital that will assuredly entice Houston, given how they mortgaged their future in previous trades of their own.

In the end, this will all come down to Watson. Who knows? Maybe having the chance to play under perhaps the greatest coach of all time is enough to convince him to sanction a trade to the Pats. However, since there are two teams in their own division (Miami and New York) that are better positioned to trade for him, we couldn’t put him higher than No. 4 on this list.

3. Justin Fields

Ohio State star Justin Fields could fall to the Patriots at No. 15.

The extent to which Justin Fields’s performances are nitpicked by analysts and scouts is nothing short of infuriating when you consider that no other quarterback has had to deal with this level of complaining. Every time he holds the ball too long and takes a sack or makes an errant throw on a poor read, folks jump the gun and drop him multiple spots on their respective draft boards.

You would think that Fields wasn’t a former top recruit and a serial winner at every stage of his career, but that is exactly the case. In his two years at Ohio State, he completed 68.4% of his passes for 5,373 yards (9.3 YPA), and 63 touchdowns to nine interceptions, equating to a 179.1 rating.

Haters will continue honing in on Fields’ flaws instead of lauding his NFL-ready intangibles, and while they do that, he might just fall to the Patriots at No. 15. That would be a dream scenario for New England, as it would allow them to devote even more cap space to free agency.

2. Matthew Stafford

The Patriots have been linked as a trade destination Matthew Stafford.

It’s admittedly frustrating not knowing what age group fancies the Patriots at the quarterback position. If they want a superstar just entering his prime, then Watson is the obvious answer. If they want to begin developing a young stud with the hope that he could one day be a franchise guy, then drafting somebody like Wilson or Fields would be the way to go.

However, if the Patriots would prefer deploying a veteran who could potentially orchestrate a deep playoff run after roster upgrades are made, then trading for Matthew Stafford should be a no-brainer. After spending the first 12 years of his career in Detroit, the 32-year-old (he’ll turn 33 next month) deserves to play for a competent franchise.

Because of his age, Stafford (unlike Watson) will come at a reasonable price. If we’re talking about a first-rounder, two seconds and a third, the Patriots shouldn’t think twice about pulling the trigger. We can definitely picture a scenario that sees him land in NE, but the uncertainty in terms of whether the Lions make him available made it impossible for us to put him No.1.

1. Jimmy Garoppolo

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been widely linked with a return to Foxborough.

There’s growing speculation among league insiders that Jimmy Garoppolo will end up as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2021, and you know what? We tend to agree. In a vacuum, bringing the 49ers star back makes perfect sense as he’s familiar with the playbook, coaching staff, and some players who were there when he last played for the team five years ago.

It remains to be seen if San Francisco is sold on Garoppolo as their long-term starter, and that uncertainty has many analysts convinced that he could be released for dirt cheap. His current contract accounts for just $2.8 million in dead cap next year compared to the $28 million in dead money this season, meaning he could be axed for what amounts to pocket change.

This would put the Patriots in a position to acquire Garoppolo without giving up any assets. If that turns out to be the case, we don’t see how they pass on the opportunity. His injury history is definitely a cause for concern, but even his biggest cynics would be hard-pressed to deny that he has the best chance of the other quarterbacks listed to be the Patriots’ QB come training camp.

Patriots: 8 Potential first-round picks who don’t play quarterback

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