How the Patriots’ quarterback situation hurt Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick didn’t draw much interest around the National Football League this off-season, but why? The New England Patriots’ quarterback situation was apparently a huge factor.
Based on a detailed new report by Jeff Howe in The Athletic, the Patriots’ dismal handling of their quarterback room in recent years contributed to Belichick’s inability to land a new head coaching job. To Belichick’s potential suitors, “the concerns with the offensive approach have outweighed” his defensive coaching acumen.
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As for quarterback, it goes all the way back to Tom Brady’s departure after the 2019 season. Per Howe, “people around the league still don’t understand how Belichick could let Tom Brady leave in free agency”. However, the Pats’ QB situation – and the perception of it – clearly only got worse from there.
FOXBOROUGH, MA: Bill Belichick talks with Tom Brady before a New England Patriots game at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The Patriots’ “lack of a succession plan was nearly as perplexing” as their decision to let Brady walk, according to Howe. Belichick brought in Cam Newton just before the start of training camp in 2020 and stuck with him throughout the season, despite his struggles. He drafted Mac Jones in the first round of the 2021 draft, but later hired Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to essentially run the Patriots offense in 2022.
Jones continued to spiral in 2023, when Belichick brought in Bill O’Brien to run the offense but barely invested in offensive line help and threw bad money at the wide receiver position. The 25-year-old quarterback appears broken and in need of a fresh start elsewhere.
Howe added: “Executives from opposing teams were also turned off by Belichick’s public alienation of Jones.”
Dec. 24, 2022; Foxborough, MA: New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones checks with head coach Bill Belichick, left, and senior football advisor Matt Patricia, second from left, during a game at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s inarguable that Belichick mishandled the whole quarterback position in the post-Brady era. Perhaps that is not entirely his fault, because ownership ostensibly played a role in torpedoing his original succession plan with Jimmy Garoppolo.
But Belichick’s lack of urgent action with his offensive roster-building can’t be excused. It’s a big reason why he lost his job in New England, and likely has to sit out 2024 before he can coach again.
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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. Check out all of Matt’s content.
A look at every Patriots wide receiver ahead of the NFL offseason
Before the New England Patriots really dive into the 2024 off-season, let’s reset the wide receiver depth chart.
Because at least some of these players are on track to be right back with the Pats in training camp. The Patriots need wide receivers, yes, but they’re not about to blow out the entire room. It’s worth knowing who’s still left behind from the debacle that was 2023.
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In fact, it’s fair to wonder how much the receivers are even at fault for what happened last season. The quarterbacks, coaches, and offensive line are at least ahead of them on the list. This group might be enough for Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Josh Allen.
You’ll notice that Kendrick Bourne is not on this list, mainly because he’s an impending free agent. He’s been covered as a considered a candidate to return after tearing his ACL. But he and another soon-to-be-free agent remain on the roster for now. Here’s what to know about the rest of the Patriots’ wide receivers…
DeMario Douglas
Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (81) runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
In an otherwise abysmal offensive season, Douglas was THE bright spot. THE silver lining. Incredibly, the 2023 Patriots technically landed a good wide receiver.
Douglas’ speed, short-area quickness, and reliable hands were almost immediately on display in training camp, and he never had a marked drop-off in performance or production. That didn’t necessarily translate to a dynamic rookie season – he may have had issues with Bill Belichick early on – but he caught 39 passes for 418 yards over his final nine games, which averages out to 74-790 over a full campaign.
Douglas may not be the new No. 1 weapon the Patriots still need. Ultimately, his ceiling seems to be that of a good No. 1 slot receiver. His lack of size will limit him at the NFL level. But he’s got the quickness and hands to make plays over the middle and in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, and he’ll break off big runs after the catch at times too.
With “Pop” Douglas, the Pats at least know they have a piece for the future on an offense that is practically bereft of pieces for the future.
DeVante Parker
Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker (1) makes a catch under pressure from Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) in the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Amid all the untimely drops and headaches in the regular season, you may forget that DeVante Parker tacked on two years to his contract with the Patriots during camp. He’s signed through 2025.
Parker, 31, caught just 33 passes for 394 yards in 2023, and amazingly did not score a single touchdown. He had just two games with five or more catches, and the always-injury-prone receiver missed another four games with various ailments. So now, keeping him another two seasons, let alone keeping him at all, is an ugly proposition.
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However, Parker is guaranteed $3.19 million in salary for 2024, per Over The Cap. Incredibly cheap. So perhaps Parker could be worth keeping around, if he’s just part of the depth and not expected to be the No. 1 outside receiver or anything close to it.
At the same time, the Patriots would save about $6.8 million in cash over the next two seasons if they release Parker or can find a trade partner for him. A pre-June 1 trade would create $3.33 million in cap space for 2024 and $5M for 2025, so it’s not like they’re hamstrung with the contract. It’s not impossible that Parker ultimately plays elsewhere next season.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) prepares for a game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the warm-up period at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Smith-Schuster is arguably their most expendable receiver, because he mainly plays inside and the Patriots have a good slot receiver. But he’s less expendable than one may desire, because of his contract.
The 27-year-old is due $7 million in guaranteed salary for 2024, per Over The Cap. Cutting him before June 1 would cost the Pats $1.9 million against the cap. If they’re going to pay him that money, they might as well keep him around and hope that he can stay healthy. That is, if the two sides didn’t decide they need a change.
That doesn’t seem likely after just one year. So, Smith-Schuster might ultimately land in the “stuck with him” category, just like Parker. But if and when the Patriots add new receivers, perhaps they will become more willing to eat the financial penalties that arise from moving on.
Jalen Reagor
Jan 7, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor (83) reacts after his catch against the New York Jets in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Finally, a more positive story among the Patriots’ wide receivers. Reagor signed midseason as a former castaway of the Eagles and Vikings, as the 2020 first-round pick has yet to live up to his draft stock.
He still hasn’t as a Patriot, but intriguingly, Reagor started to make some plays for them down the stretch of 2023. Reagor made four catches over his final three games, and averaged a staggering 26.3 yards. Consistency and more volume would make Reagor the dynamic wideout he was supposed to be.
It’s worth finding out if he can tap into his remaining potential as a member of the Patriots. He’s on track to become a free agent, so he’s technically in the same boat as Bourne. But it’s a slam-dunk easy decision to sign Reagor for a minimal one-year deal and see how he continues to develop.
Tyquan Thornton
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 03: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It’s not Thornton’s fault that he’s a remnant of the Bill Belichick era and the subpar drafting that doomed the head coach/GM in the end. But two seasons into his NFL career, Thornton has rarely looked like a player that was worthy of a second-round pick.
And that’s a little surprising to anyone that saw Thornton with their own two eyes in his first training camp as a rookie in 2022. The speed, route-running, and hands were all there. Unfortunately, Thornton hasn’t shown enough toughness at the catch point, which is making him vulnerable to any kind of press-man coverage or physicality.
Thornton should still have a chance to contribute in year 3, and nobody needs it to work out more than him. It’s just hard to have much confidence that he’ll live up to his draft stock.
Kayshon Boutte
Aug 19, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte runs after catching a pass to score a touchdown in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Boutte unfortunately made headlines recently because of his arrest on charges related to illegal sports betting. That the Patriots haven’t cut Boutte should declare that, like Jack Jones, they’re willing to let the legal process play out before making a decision on him.
But for now, Boutte can’t be counted on to contribute anything to the Patriots in 2024, if he’s even still on the team come Week 1. He’s shown good hands and breakaway speed, but he clearly has plenty of off-field trouble to sort through before he can think about having success in the NFL.
T.J. Luther
T.J. Luther of the New York Jets prepares for the snap during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 12, 2023. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Patriots recently signed Luther to a futures contract, locking him in to the 90-man roster for 2024 camp. Luther spent much of the 2023 season on the Patriots’ practice squad, before being released in November. Mayo and the new-look Patriots staff clearly saw enough from Luther that they liked to keep him around for a summer. To borrow an old go-to line from Bill Belichick … we’ll see how it goes.
