Josh McDaniels Gets His Quarterback Out Of New England And Only Paid A Sixth For Him.

In the 2022 NFL draft, the Patriots took Bailey Zappe, quarterback from Western Kentucky. The New England Patriots then decided on May 12th of 2022 to send Jarrett Stidham (and possibly a seventh?) to the Las Vegas Raiders. Stidham now joins Josh McDaniels and the Patriots get a sixth round pick for their former fourth round selection. Some Patriots fans are acting like the Patriots got one over on the Raiders but did they?

His career:

Over his career with the Patriots Stidham played in 8 games. He was always put in with the team trailing but close enough that the team could comeback. Now Stidham didn't look good in New England and at times he looked scared. As a passer he could hit the timing passes better than Newton but statistically there were times when his numbers matched Newton's. 

Stidham threw 48 passes completing 24 of them. He threw 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. One of which was a ball that Edelman dropped or redirected into the hands of a defender. 13 of Stidham 24 completions were for first downs. Stidham was sacked 5 times. He also ran the ball 9 times for 5 yards with 3 first downs.

Stidham's true completion percentage was 59.5 and his true rating was 76. Further more, analytics show only 2 of Stidham's passes were listed as interceptable. Stidham threw 4. Take that into consideration. He also had 1 drop.

His ties to McDaniels

During the 2020 season Cam Newton was playing horribly and people were wondering why the Patriots did not play Jarrett Stidham. In October of 2020 Josh McDaniels said the following.

"Competed his butt off this whole year trying to learn and improve as a football player. Really continues to work really hard and prepare just as he would if he was starting, which is what he did last year as a rookie. He’s an unselfish guy. He will do anything to help the team. Practices well, practices hard, prepares every week to be ready to go. I have a lot of confidence in Jarrett and I see a lot of growth in him each week that he’s here.”

Later that season McDaniels was still being questioned and said, That’s coach (Belichick)’s decision, and I honor whatever he makes in terms of those choices...” 

McDaniels however wasn't done saying, "We work as hard as we can to get everybody ready to go. I’ve seen plenty of Jarrett in practice. I see him every day. I’ve seen him for two years. I’m confident that I understand where Jarrett is at in his development.

But I also know that our job is to try to go out there and win two football games that we have left. So that starts with Buffalo Monday night. Cam’s done a great job of preparing this week. Those choices are Bill’s. Whatever he chooses, that’s what we’re going to do, and I feel confident going in with the plan that we have right now.”

McDaniels threw Belichick under the bus. Belichick is a hard headed guy. And when Bill makes his mind up, there's no changing it. It's very possible that Bill decided that Stidham was not starting for him and to end Stidham's career before it started by not letting him start in 2020.

Overall thoughts:

Stidham is now Josh McDaniels problem. The last time McDaniels was a coach, he chased out starter Jay Cutler for Tim Tebow. The acquisition of Stidham could be nothing but getting a veteran backup. However, it could also be him preparing to make a move by putting pressure on Carr. Only time will tell. It may just turn out that Stidham was with the Patriots to appease Josh McDaniels. If so, it would answer a few questions and create some others.

Regardless of how Mac Jones turns out, if McDaniels makes a quarterback out of Stidham with the Raiders, people will be able to justify Bill getting in his own way. If not, people will be able to brag about how savvy Belichick was to get something for someone who was worth nothing.

Also i'm pretty sure Mac was taken over Justin Fields to appease Robert Kraft but that's another story.