Who’s left at quarterback for the 2021 Patriots?

The quarterback options are starting to dwindle for the 2021 Patriots. Assuming a major trade for an elite franchise guy isn’t in the works, possibilities are falling off the table for Bill Belichick.

Obvious candidates like Jimmy Garoppolo remain possible. And the Colts’ acquisition of Carson Wentz from the Eagles may have helped Belichick, since he cost only a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-rounder.

But in free agency, Dak Prescott is the only way to add an established impact player at quarterback. Every other option has his flaws, and should be coupled with a high draft pick. But the options are plentiful among those more affordable gambles.

Unless the Patriots are in on Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers, most of the below quarterback options are relatively realistic. In the case of almost everyone on this list, Belichick would ideally have other promising pieces coming to the quarterback room.

7 Quarterback Options for the 2021 Patriots

• Jimmy Garoppolo

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  Duh. Jimmy G should be at the top of everyone’s list for realistic or probable quarterback options for the Patriots - even if it means a trade. Bill Belichick should have to give up a package closer to the Carson Wentz trade than Matthew Stafford to get back his original successor for Tom Brady. Durability is an issue, but Garoppolo should remain a great fit for the Pats.

• Derek Carr

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  It feels like forever ago when Carr was an MVP candidate as he led the Raiders to a 12-3 record with strong passing numbers. He’s been an efficient passer and would likely manage the Patriots offense well. But has he proven enough to be confident he can win? The Patriots would need to continue to improve the team around Carr to become a legitimate contender.

• QB Mitchell Trubisky

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  This is a Belichick kind of free agent. Trubisky’s stock is down after entering the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick. He hasn’t made enough plays or shown nearly enough consistency throwing the ball to emerge as a franchise quarterback. Belichick might love the challenge of making Trubisky the player he was meant to be. But if the Patriots go this route, they’d better have a good plan B.
• Marcus Mariota

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  The former Titans quarterback looked solid in his one start for the Raiders in 2020. He’s had a bit of bad luck cycling through three coaches and five (!) different offensive coordinators, so some stability could do him some good. He’d be relatively cheap to acquire. The concern with Mariota is that he may not be good enough to elevate everyone else around him, so better weapons would be imperative.

• QB Jacoby Brissett

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  Like Garoppolo, the familiarity is a big plus for Brissett. He had flashes of success as the starter for the Colts. Brissett is at least competent throwing the football, so he’d certainly be an improvement over Cam Newton. But ideally, he would be paired with a high draft pick in the QB room. It shouldn't take much to sign him, either.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick

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  Like with Brissett and others, if Fitzpatrick signs with the Patriots the ideal situation is to pair him with a rookie first-round pick. You start with Fitzpatrick, get a little FitzMagic out of him, and hopefully the kid is ready to go once Fitzpatrick goes in the tank. This type of scenario is becoming more probable as the offseason goes on.

MORE: 2021 NFL salary cap is good news for Patriots

In our first 2021 mock draft, we actually have the Patriots taking a wide receiver. And elsewhere in free agency, they have options on defense too. There’s a lot on Belichick’s plate in the coming weeks and months.

We went over a lot of the Patriots’ 2021 quarterback options in a recent episode of the SideLines podcast. Have a listen below.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.