The Patriots hit the quarterback jackpot last spring when they chose Drake Maye with the third overall pick, and the North Carolina product subsequently put together a strong rookie campaign with a bad cast of "talent" around him. Draft classmate Joe Milton has the potential to be a starter in the NFL, and we all saw what he could do in Week 18 against Buffalo.
But in the NFL, you must always be ready to call in the "next man up." We all remember that Matt Cassel was ready to go when Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first quarter of the 2008 season. Cassel, who hadn't started a game since high school prior to that season, led the Patriots to an 11-5 record.
We all know wide receiver and the offensive line are free-agent areas the Patriots need to address this offseason. But bringing in a capable backup in case something happens to Maye should be an essential part of this offseason too, and it's better to get that done during the offseason rather than in the middle of the season. Ask Miami, which has floundered since Tua Tagovailoa got hurt in recent years.
At the top of our list is a guy who used to torment the Patriots over the years.
3 quarterbacks the Patriots could sign as Drake Maye's backup in 2025
1. Joe Flacco
Yes, that Joe Flacco. The guy who repeatedly gave the Patriots headaches during the prime of his career in Baltimore. Flacco turned 40 earlier this month, but he can still play, passing for more than 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns with Indianapolis last season.
Flacco is a great locker room guy with a Super Bowl ring who could essentially be another offensive coordinator to Maye on the sidelines. Given his age, he'd also likely come cheap. Flacco would be a great option for the quarterback room if he doesn't retire.
2. Marcus Mariota
Another steady veteran who was a valuable mentor to Jayden Daniels in Washington last season. Even better, Mariota played for Vrabel in Tennessee, so he has ties to the Patriots' new head coach. Mariota is a great athlete and could potentially be thrown into some gadget plays or short-yardage situations in Josh McDaniels' offense.
He's also a guy who likely wouldn't cost a lot of money and stepped right in to finish a Commanders' win over Carolina in Week 7 when Daniels was injured.
3. Jameis Winston
There's no doubt Winston's past is checkered in terms of his off-the-field issues at Florida State. But he has a big arm and can run, and he would be a guy who could step right in and play should the unthinkable happen to Maye. Cleveland's quarterback situation is a mess, to put it nicely, thanks to Deshaun Watson's albatross of a contract and inability to stay on the field.
The Browns could elect to bring Winston back. If not, he's another guy the Patriots could sign on a cheap one- or two-year deal.