The Patriots' Mike Vrabel has spent the offseason rebuilding his offense and defense, adding better players throughout the roster. The improvements will be visible immediately when the team takes the field in summer camp and beyond.
Vrabel rebuilt the offensive line with about a half dozen additions. He also added four solid options at wide receiver, another major weakness. In addition, he selected an explosive running back, TreVeyon Henderson, in the second round. This offense will be miles ahead of the lackluster 2024 version.
One offensive position that didn't get a whole lot of attention for obvious reasons is quarterback. Vrabel has one of the best young QBs in the league in Drake Maye. Yet, if injuries strike, it's nice to have a decent fall-back position. Vrabel signed journeyman nine-year veteran Joshua Dobbs to be the backup and also added rookie Ben Wooldridge as the third man. But is more needed?
Patriots could use an experienced, top veteran backup QB
Since Dobbs isn't exactly a household name, should the Patriots lose Maye's services for any length of time, they'd be well-served to have a top veteran backup who could win them some games. There's an option that might make sense for them in Cleveland.
Dawg Pound Daily's Mark Sipos has written about what teams the Browns' quarterbacks might fit elsewhere in a trade. One of the teams he thinks is a fit for veteran Joe Flacco is in New England.
"The Patriots showed interest in Flacco earlier this offseason before he re-signed with Cleveland. Drake Maye has the keys now, but the depth behind him is shaky with Joshua Dobbs and Ben Wooldridge. Flacco would give New England a no-nonsense veteran who can manage the quarterback room, help prep Maye for gameday, and step in if needed without derailing the offense.
With a backfield featuring Rhamondre Stevenson, rookie TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson, this team should be leaning on the run game. Flacco's experience in play-action and run-balanced systems would fit what New England wants to be."
Sipos makes an excellent point. The 2024 Patriots lost six games by one score in 2024. Many of the deficiencies in that team have been ameliorated, if not totally remedied. Those additions, along with the upgrade in the coaching staff, will immediately narrow the gap in many of those games. Adding a veteran winner like Flacco to the mix makes all the sense in the world.
Adding Joe Flacco in a trade would be a smart move by the Patriots
This Patriots team is now built to win. Yet, losing Maye would be a major impediment. Neither of the backups inspires much confidence, but Flacco might be exactly what the Patriots could use if Maye is injured, or, interestingly, even if he isn't.
Flacco is now a well-traveled, 40-year-old, 17-year NFL veteran. He's seen and done everything, including winning a Super Bowl in 2013 with the Ravens. Absent Tom Brady coming home, there may not be a better option for Vrabel and the Patriots than to bring in Flacco for a year as the Pats' backup QB.
Flacco is still effective. Last season for the Browns, he completed 65 percent of his passes in eight games, starting six, and threw 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Should Maye be out of the lineup, Flacco could step in, and the Patriots can still win.
Bringing Joe Flacco in as the clear backup to Drake Maye means there'll be no competition issues to muddy the waters. Few NFL veteran QBs would be a better tutor and influence on Maye than Flacco. It would be a masterstroke by Mike Vrabel to do what Mark Sipos suggests. It's worth a pick, and even a decent one, to have a backup who can win you some games. Vrabel should go for it.