Which veteran and rookie quarterback pairings would make the most sense for the Patriots? (USA Today Network)
It seems highly likely at this point that the New England Patriots’ quarterback room is going to look very different in 2024 than it did in 2023. Earlier this month NFL Network reported Mac Jones is ‘likely’ to be traded this offseason, as speculation builds around the team selecting a quarterback at some point in this year’s NFL Draft.
Assuming that happens, the changes won’t stop there. As is the case for any team making a premium investment in a young quarterback, the Patriots would likely want to add an experienced veteran as a mentor (somebody who can start the first few weeks of the season if the rookie is not ready, depending on where they’re picked).
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That being said, it’s not as simple as just signing any quarterback in the free agency pool and plopping him down next to the rookie. Some quarterbacks will be better fits than others. It makes more sense to have a rookie work with a veteran who has (or had in his prime) a similar skillset, and has been asked to do similar things on the football field.
Free agency obviously takes place more than a month before the draft. So this isn’t always a perfect science (stick around until the end of this piece for the cheat code). Still if the Patriots have a specific rookie quarterback in mind in the draft, they could make a point of getting the veteran they think he’d work best with.
This doesn’t just apply to the quarterbacks at the top, top, top of the draft either. Any rookie quarterback viewed as even having a chance at winning the starting role could be helped by a veteran presence in the room.
Keeping that in mind, let’s try a fun thought experiment. Looking at all of the Patriots’ potential options in the top 150 of the draft (excluding Caleb Williams, who is expected to go first overall), here are the free agent veterans it would make the most sense for each of them to work with.
One more thing to stress…these are NOT player comps for these quarterbacks (although a couple of them do fit in that regard). For those, check out our quarterback big board and scouting reports.
Drake Maye – Joe Flacco
UNC quarterback Drake Maye, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (USA Today Network)
If the Patriots are going to work on developing a big-armed, big-body quarterback in Alex Van Pelt’s system, why not go out and get the last big-armed, big-body quarterback to run that system? Assuming Flacco isn’t going to retire he’d be a good fit to work with Maye given many of his historical strengths (think his time in Baltimore) match up with what Maye will be asked to do at the next level, while also being somebody familiar with the system Maye will be tasked with learning. Plus with such a high pick it’s important to get somebody who would embrace the mentor role, which Flacco has been in on multiple teams over the past few years. Ryan Tannehill received some consideration here as well.
Jayden Daniels – Tyrod Taylor
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (USA Today Network)
Taylor, like Daniels, can impact games with both his arm and his legs. Having played for six teams over 13 NFL seasons he’s certainly had to learn his share of playbooks, and should be able to help Daniels adjust from the very unique LSU offense to an NFL system.
Although he’s 34 now and his best playing days are likely behind him, Taylor was a capable starter at one point. He went 23-20 during three years as the starter for the Bills, which included a trip to the Pro Bowl. Since then he’s been the veteran backup to two highly-drafted quarterbacks – Baker Mayfield in Cleveland and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles. In 2022 the Giants signed him after declining Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option.
Michael Penix – Drew Lock
Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (USA Today Network)
Ideally any team that drafts Penix would find a lefty to back him up so they wouldn’t have to flip the entire offense any time there’s a quarterback change. However, Tua Tagovailoa is the only active lefty quarterback in the NFL, so unless something goes horribly wrong in Miami or Kellen Moore decides coordinating the Eagles’ offensive isn’t enough for him and he comes out of retirement, that’s just not going to be an option.
Instead, we turn to play style. Lock, like Penix, has a big arm and plays the quarterback position fearlessly. There’s a good amount of overlap in the strengths of the two players. After showing some promise as a backup last year Lock may be looking for a team where he has at least more of a chance to be a starter, but if Penix falls to the second round like some project, that door could be open.
There was some consideration in going with Jameis Winston here, with there once again being some overlap in throwing styles (Winston’s athleticism does give him an element Penix doesn’t use much in his game). However Winston, after riding the bench for the last two years in New Orleans, will likely want to go somewhere that he at least enters training camp as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job and could start long-term.
J.J. McCarthy – Marcus Mariota
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota (USA Today Network)
After being drafted second overall in 2015, Mariota had to learn an NFL offense after running a very specific and unique system at Oregon. McCarthy could have a similar kind of adjustment coming from Michigan’s run-heavy offense – although it would be more about volume than structure. Plus, when they’re at their best both quarterbacks use their athleticism as a key tool and can make defenses pay when throwing on the run.
Mariota has experience in the bridge role too. He signed with the Falcons in 2022 before they drafted Desmond Ritter, and started the first 13 games of the season for Atlanta.
Bo Nix – Ryan Tannehill
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (USA Today Network)
Tannehill may have struggled to hold onto his starting job the past two years, but when he was at his best he was a play action-heavy quarterback who could threaten with his legs when needed. That’s the kind of player Nix will need to be to succeed at the next level, especially if it’s in Alex Van Pelt’s offense. If Tannehill is willing to take on a bridge/mentor role (a concept he admittedly wasn’t thrilled about two years ago), he’d be a good fit with Nix.
Spencer Rattler – Gardner Minshew
South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (USA Today Network)
Could the Patriots’ quarterback room consist of a couple of undersized gunslingers? That’s what it would look like with Rattler and Minshew, a couple of quarterbacks who tend to throw caution into the wind and love to hunt big plays. Minshew is just coming off of a season where he was (supposed to be) the veteran backup for Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis, but started 13 games after Richardson got hurt and let the Colts to a 7-6 record.
The thing about his quarterback room is neither player projects as a true starter in 2024. Of course one of them would likely get the nod, but this pairing would represent a true bridge year at the position.
Joe Milton – Jameis Winston
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (USA Today Network)
This is the first and only pairing on our list where the veteran enters camp as the true favorite to be the starter. Still only 30 years old, Winston may be looking for another shot at leading a franchise after seeing few opportunities in New Orleans the last two years.
In this scenario, Milton is more of a Day 3 lottery ticket than anything else. Still, Milton could certainly run a similar offense and the two play a similar electric, no-risk-it-no-biscuit style of football. Many of the things Milton needs to clean up in his game were issues Winston had early in his career, so there’s certainly areas where his insight could be valuable. With this quarterback room, the Patriots would likely end up running a bombs-away passing attack.
All – Jacoby Brissett
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 26: Washington Commanders quarterback Jacoby Brissett #12 prepares for a snap against the Cincinnati Bengals in a preseason game at FedExField on August 26, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tony Davis/Getty Images)
You may be wondering where Brissett as been on this list. After all, he’s been tabbed as the best fit as a bridge/mentor in New England for the upcoming season. The reality is given Brissett’s experience in so many different offenses and the different ways he’s been asked to play over the years, – as well as what Brissett has shown as a mentor in recent years – it’s hard to pin him with any one rookie quarterback when he’d realistically be a good fit with all of them. For all that was said of the seven pairing above, Brissett looks like the best move for the Patriots no matter who they draft.
