For the sake of this post the Patriots don’t draft a QB in round 1 or 2 of the draft.
Mac Jones has been told he won’t be the starter next season but back-up number one. Zappe is a final cut.
Which free agent QB would help the Patriots win immediately?
There aren’t any great options but I think some of the QBs available will be Baker Mayfield, Jameis Winston, Ryan Tannehill or Jacoby Brissett. All have more arm power than Mac.
Let’s imagine Kirk Cousins returns to the Vikings which after last night’s loss I’m sure he does. I also don’t think Bill would sign a 35 QB returning from an achilles injury who would want more money than any of the other QBs mentioned.
I wonder if Bill would think he could win with Baker Mayfield? He is “only” getting paid $4 million this season by the Bucs on a one year deal. You know Bill loves a bargain and perhaps he could get Mayfield on a team friendly deal. Not as cheap as Cam Newton but still great value.
Baker already seems to have some chemistry with Mike Evans. I think it would be a successful off-season if we could sign both of them. Evans is a UFA and at 30 it seems the Bucs won’t offer him big money.
You spend your first round pick on Marvin Harrison Jr and your second round pick on the best available Left Tackle.
The rest of the draft fills wants and needs and the still huge amount of salary cap to fill can be spent on extending players already on the roster and any other free agents.
Would you be happy if we went into next season with Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans and MHjr behind a new LT and you had the rest of the receivers as 3rd-6th choice options?
If you don’t ride with Baker who would you sign as a FA and why?
These guys are all better than Mac, sure, but not taking a QB if we think one is worth the pick would be lunacy. Those guys should be either playing in front of a rookie QB that spends a year or two learning, or pushing one of those QBs in camp to show that maybe the rookie QB can play day 1.
Calvin Johnson was on a 0-16 Lions team. Where he went for 78/1331/12. Having an elite WR does not matter if you have a cavalcade of backup veteran QBs trying to play. If we have a top 2 pick and one of those QBs is worth a top 2 pick, it would be crazy to pass.
I get what you are saying but I have been ultra specific draft MHjr and sign Mike Evans (or Tee Higans). Immediately you have two huge weapons that were not on the roster.
By signing Mike Evans you would avoid the Megatron comparison. I think the Patriots would be a play-off team next season with a healthy roster but several key additions which can easily be achieved through draft and free agency.
Several games have come down to one score at the end. The defence has been good even without Gonzo, Jones and Judon.