NFL insider suggests Patriots bring in former top pick QB

There is a lot of chatter already about what the Patriots will do this offseason, ranging from significant coaching changes to who will be, or won’t be, the starting quarterback next year. Many voices in the media are adding their own ideas into the mix, particularly regarding Mac Jones remaining in New England.

On top of the most recent rumor circulating the internet about Derek Carr being traded to the Patriots, NFL insider Albert Breer shared his theory on what Bill Belichick may consider implementing this offseason for the quarterback room.

Instead of driving home the idea of moving on from the second-year quarterback outright, Breer suggested the team bring in a free-agent veteran to compete with Jones. The hope would be to make him better through the risk of job security.

And who might that veteran quarterback be? Former first overall pick in the 2018 draft Baker Mayfield.

"“I think we’ve got to look at Bill’s actions here too. Conventional wisdom says that you do everything you can in a quarterback’s first year, three years, to bring him along and create the right environment around him. Have they really done that? Like, they rolled the dice with Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. At every opportunity Bill’s had this year to say ‘he’s unequivocally my starter,’ Bill’s failed to do that both earlier in the year and more recently. So what we’ve seen is Bill continuing to push, and push, and push Mac. Well, if that’s the way that he’s treated him in Year 2, and the performance hasn’t been there, shouldn’t we be led to believe that maybe in Year 3 he takes that to another level and brings in another person?And I do think what you lose in reps maybe you gain in competition. The way I look at this, there’s two benefits to bringing in competition. Especially if it’s somebody young like Baker Mayfield. Number one, you may find an answer on Mac quicker, on who he’s going to be as a professional and as a player. Number two, this gives you kind of two swings at it. If the goal is to find your quarterback for the next decade, having both Baker Mayfield and Mac Jones in the building, if the talent is comparable, gives you two swings at getting that answer right.”"

As if the Carr to New England rumors weren’t bizarre enough, thinking about Mayfield signing with the Patriots is even crazier.

The idea behind bringing in competition for a specific position on a team is not uncommon; if anything, it’s done every season on every team throughout the NFL. It can often bring out the best in a player or provide the answer coaches are looking for a lot faster, whether for good or not-so-good reasons.

But what would the reasoning be in Mayfield specifically? And why would the quarterback choose to sign with New England without guaranteeing a starting job? And is it really an upgrade over Mac Jones, considering Mayfield hasn’t played well enough to remain on a team?

Mayfield considers himself a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL, and it’s possible quarterback-needy teams across the league would agree. When he becomes a free agent this offseason, he will likely look for teams that will make him the starter right away. Because he can control his fate rather than be traded, why would Mayfield sign with the Patriots without that being part of the deal?

In theory, Breer’s suggestion is reasonable. But maybe there were better choices than using Mayfield as an example.