What is the number fifteen pick worth?

Brian Mazique of the Heavy wrote an article talking about the possibility of the Patriots trading back into the second if they cannot get their guy at 15. That had me curious of what they could get for the fifteenth overall pick. 

I used the pro football network simulator to see what the Patriots could get. 

In the first mock draft, the Steelers offered the 24th, 55th, and 2022 sixth round pick for the number 15 overall pick.

The Giants would offer the Patriots Picks 42, 76, and their 2022 second round pick for the number 24 over all pick and the Patriots 139th pick.

In the second mock draft, The Cleveland Browns made the best offer, offering the 26th and 59th pic, plus a 3re in 2022 for the Patriots 15th.

The Patriots would then be offered picks 36 and 81 from the Miami Dolphins for pick 26. While Improbable, they offered the most realistic trade. 

As one can see, the Patriots can get some value by trading out of the fifteenth pick. The question comes down to will the get a good offer and will they have access to players that can make a difference. The Patriots could get a minimum five extra picks if they traded down properly. With all this, all I can say is "in Bill we trust".

Patriots are the supposed frontrunner for Mariota

It's not a secret that Gruden wants to move on from Carr but according to Paolo Songco of Clutch Points, the Raiders are sticking with David Carr for at least another year. With that Songco says "the Patriots are the front runners" for Carr's back up Marcus Mariota.

The Patriots brought in Cam Newton and he was atrocious as a passer. Jarrett Stidham was redshirted for the 2020, and everytime he was brought in for relief, his play was comparable to Cam Newton's. 

Although Stidham got some praise during the season from Newton and Belichick, and has support of players like Danien Harris and James White who say him in practice, from what we saw, he looked bad. So at the very least the Patriots need to bring in someone to compete in 2021.

Songco writes,  Mariota played just one game for the Raiders last season, and there are more than a few folks that would agree with the notion that his talents are being wasted sitting on coach John Gruden’s bench. A change in scenery might work wonders for Mariota, and he could have a clear path to a starting gig with the Pats."

My father is a Titans' fan, and during the 2020 offseason he told me that Mariota "was in the wrong offense" in Tennessee and "would do better in an offense similar to the Patriots, and that he thought he would succeed in New England.

In 2015, it was a toss up of who would get drafted first between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Mariota put up a 36-5 record at Oregon, winning the Heisman in 2014. Mariota would leave after his junior season.

Over his colgate career Mariota completed 66.8% of his 1167 passes for 10796 yards, with 105 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The dual threat quarterback also averaged 6.6 yards per carry with 29 touchdowns in 337 attempts. Mariota also averaged 14 yards with 2 touchdowns on 2 receptions. 

In Tennessee Mariota played in 63 games. Starting 61. Going 29-32 as a starter. In 2015 Mariota had Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Mularkey as his head coaches. Mularkey continued on as head coach until 2017, and in 2018 Mike Vrabel took over. That's a lot of instability and dysfunction Mariota had to deal with.

Since Mariota has been in the league he has completed 62.9% of 1123 passes for 13433 yards, with 77 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. He was sacked 77 times under Vrabel and in 2019, 107 of his 160 throws were on target, only throwing a bad pass 20.8% of the time.

Mariota has averaged 5.9 yards per carry, with 12 touchdowns on 251 attempts. In 2020, Mariota ran it 9 times for a 9.8 yard average. Mariota over his career also has averaged 31 yards with 2 touchdowns on 2 receptions. 

Matt Waldman's RSP compared Mariota to Steve Young and RG3 coming out of the Draft. While Bleacher report compared Mariota to Russell Wilson saying, "Mariota has a great ceiling but a very low floor. Depending on the type of offense he’s drafted into, a steep learning curve should be expected."

Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports listLed 3 flaws for Marcus Mariota in 2020.  

"Inconsistent play: Hasn't been able to match his totals from breakout 2016 season. Steps into sacks other quarterbacks know how to avoid, pocket presence is questionable. Injury issues: Has never played a full 16-game season."

The 6'4" 222 pound quarterback will be turning 28 in October and should be entering his prime. Mariota is in the last year of his two year deal, and is set to make 10.6 million dollars. Mariota is a medium risk, high reward player. While I wouldn't think of him as a bridge guy, his contract may make him so. 

However, what makes him even more of a risk is how much the Raiders are asking for him. Giving up anything more than a 3rd for Mariota is too much unless they plan on extending him because that's the most they're likely to get back via compensation picks. 

Mariota would come in and compete with either Jarrett Stidham or a new rookie quarterback. His contract is okay for one year if he has to be the backup but the cost to obtain him maybe just a little too high.

Patriots offensive outlook.

The 2020 New England Patriots finished 7-9 and very easily could've finished 10-6 but mistakes cost them. That tells me the team is actually a 9-7 team. The Patriots head into the 2021 offseason with 23 free agents. However, The team is still only a few pieces away from being competitive while rebuilding but it all comes down to scouting and negotiating. Let's take a look at the Patriots and see what they need. I'll start with the offense and finish the defense later.

At quarterback currently the Patriots have Jarrett Stidham and Jake Dolegada under contract. Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer are both set to be free agents in march.

Stidham is still under his rookie contract, the Patriots have him for two seasons. Stidham got put in Bill's doghouse in 2020 and was redshirted. Watching his performance as a passer, his play was comparable to Cam Newton everytime he took the field.

Dolegada was signed to a future contract after spending the season on the practice squad, and the team believed he could be developed into something. Whether they saw a backup or future starting potential is uncertain.

Cam Newton ran the football like a tight end, slow but with power. However, the former MVP had mechanical issues in his tenth season and was equal to if not a worse passer than the Patriots 2019 fourth round draft pick Jarrett Stidham. There are reports going around that Cam's arm is shot and that his value has fallen even further than it did last offseason. The only benefit Cam Newton provides is he can run and he can mentor quarterbacks on how to run. 

Brian Hoyer was signed to be a game manager. He was supposed to be the Patriots security blanket. Prior to Stidham's injury landing him in the doghouse, Hoyer had already found himself demoted to third string. The former film mastermind of superbowl 53 had one of the worst performances for a game manager week four versus the Chiefs. In fact Hoyer's debacle at halftime may have costed the Patriots the game, as it certainly costed them Points.

Outlook: While majority of Patriots fans want the Patriots to take Mac Jones, which I would not oppose; The Patriots should go in another direction in 2021. The Patriots should sign Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or Andy Dalton. Three guys who should be able to run the Brady offense, to compete with Stidham for the starting spot and hold the spot for at least two years if they win it.

At Running Back: Currently the Patriots have Brandon Bolden, JJ Taylor, Sony Michel, and Damien Harris under contract, with James White and Rex Burkhead as free agents.

While Primarily a special teams back, Bolden showed in 2019 that he could be used like Rex Burkhead. Bolden average 4.4 true yards per carry and a catch rate of 81.8. 

In comparison, James White in 2020 averaged 3.5 yards per carry and only had a 79% catch rate. 

J.J. Taylor was an early spark for the Patriots. Taylor averaged 4.6 yards on 23 carries, evading 3 tackles. Taylor was only thrown to twice, catching one pass but has the ability to be a receiving back.

Rex Burkhead has been a utility back for the Patriots doing everything and stole J.J. Taylor's spark late in the season. Burkhead had a 4.0 average on 67 carries. He also had a catch rate of 75.8

Outlook: Michel and Harris are a one two punch and Taylor and Bolden can replace White and Burkhead at a much cheaper cost. The draft is coming and the Patriots can always find a day three or undrafted back. The Patriots should let both White and Burkhead walk because both backs should want between five to seven million dollars a piece.

Fullbacks: While the Patriots are listed as having two, Jakob Johnson and Danny Vitale.

Vitale was and is referred to as a super back. Vitale is like Dalton Keene, he is a H-Back tight end. He allows the Patriots to do a lot schematicly, just like Keene. He can catch, run, and block. Vitale had a catch rate of 58.3 in 2019.

Johnson did a fantastic job replacing James Devlin. Johnson was primarily used to open up holes for the running backs. In 2020, Johnson had a catch rate of 88.9%.

Outlook: It's unclear how the Patriots plan on using Vitale. If they plan on using him solely as a fullback, than expect a competition for the position. However, if the Patriots draft a tight end, Keene and Vitale might just push Johnson off the roster without a competition.

Receiver: Not including captain and special teamer Matthew Slater, the Patriots have a large group of pass catchers, and two free agents in Byrd and Moncrief are free agents. One of the things that hurt the Patriots receivers was that they each only got open a handful of times a game but their quarterback could never find them when open.

Julian Edelman hopefully will come back healthy from his Injuries that plagued him the last two seasons. Normally one of the best at separation, Edelman had a separation rate of 1.47 and a true catch rate of 75%. Edelman only played in six games but still caught 21 balls for 315 yards.

The Patriots also have Quincey Adeboyejo signed to a future contract. Was considered a project coming out of the 2017 draft, is a X/Z hybrid. Runs a 4.42 forty and a 6.73 three cone. The Patriots maybe hoping to develop him further. Has the speed the Patriots only had with Byrd.

N'Keal Harry like the other pass catchers was open only a handful of games, and can only be productive if the quarterback gets him the ball. Harry is a candidate to convert to a U-Tight End (move) but will need to add at least ten pounds. Gronk added 15 last offseason season, so Harry can do it. Although Harry had Cam throwing him the ball, he still managed to catch 33 passes for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 6'4" pass catcher only saw 10 redzone targets in 2020, catching 6. Harry had a true catch rate of 86.8% and 71.4% on contested catches. 

The Patriots signed Marqise Lee but he opted out. Lee is another X-Z hybrid. When healthy Lee is a weapon but that's the key word, when. Over his career, not including 2020, lee has missed 37 of 96 games. In 2017 Lee caught 56 of 96 passes for 702 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lee also has the ability to be a solid kickoff return specialist.

Jakobi Meyers is a hybrid Y-Z receiver. Meyers had a true catch rate of 90.8% and a target separation rate of 2.04. Meyers had 59 catches for 729 yards but no touchdowns.

Gunner Olszewski had 4 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Gunner had an 80% catch rate and seemed to have a better chemistry with Stidham than Newton. Gunner also was very successful in the return game, averaging 17.3 yards per punt return, with a touchdown. Also averaging 23.2 yards per kickoff. Gunner is a true slot receiver.

The Patriots signed Devin Smith to a futures contract. Smith was drafted in the second round by the New York Jets in 2015. Smith ran a 4.42 forty and a 6.83 three cone. Smith is a X/Y receiver hybrid and gunner who could use to add 10-15 pounds. Some scouting reports listed Smith as a developmental project coming out of Ohio State.

Another player signed to a future contract is rookie Kristian Wilkerson who ran a 4.46 forty and a 6.68 three cone. Wilkerson is a project but probably the Patriots only true X-receiver with slot quickness.

Isaiah Zuber appeared and then disappeared. Zuber is a Slot/Z receiver and special steamer. Zuber caught both catches thrown to him for 29 yards. Some analysts had Zuber listed as a third round developmental player before the draft. 

Damiere Byrd is currently a free agent but was one of the Patriots better pass catchers in 2020. Byrd is Y/Z  receiver who ran a 4.28 forty and a 6.6 three cone. Byrd had 47 catches for a true catch rate of 87. He also had a target separation rate of 1.77 which was good enough to put up 604 receiving yards and a touchdown.

X-Receiver and returner Donte Moncrief is also a free agent. Moncrief was drafted by the colts in the third round because he has the ability to line up in the X, Y, and Z spot. Moncrief runs a 4.4 forty even and a 7.02 three cone. Moncrief had two targets in 2020, catching one for 15 yards. He also temporarily took the kick returning job from Gunner and averaged over 23 yards on 7 returns.

Outlook: The Patriots have enough day one and day two talent on the roster, that with a full offseason, the Patriots should be better and need to develop what's in house. However, the Patriots Still need a true number one. Marvin Jones, Corey Davis, and Curtis Samuel are all names linked to the Patriots but are all expected to want over ten Million dollars a year. Belichick has never done well in the draft with receivers but the alternative is going to be over paying for a number one.

Tight End:  The tight end spot was largely unproductive in 2020 but like the receivers, they got open a handful of times game. From inexperience, to being ignored, to having the ball thrown very poorly, the tight ends were doomed to fail. 

Ryan Izzo did a decent job blocking and caught 13 of his 20 targets for a true catch rate of 92.2%. Izzo also caught 199 yards with a target separation rate of 1.7. Izzo's numbers would've been better with a more accurate passer with better vision and a quicker progression read time.

Devin Asiasi was targeted 7 times but only managed to catch 2 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Unlike Izzo, Asiasi was thrown passes that were 85% catchable. Asiasi was viewed as a project. 

Dalton Keene was another player that when he was on the field during passing plays, he was ignored. Keene had a true catch rate of 75%, catching 3 passes for 16 yards. Keene had a target separation rate of 1.80. Fans were expecting Aaron Hernandez but they should've been expecting Rod Bernstein or Keith Byars. 

Outlook: The Patriots have two H-Backs in Vitale and Keene, and two Inline tight ends in Asiasi and Izzo. What the Patriots are lacking is that receiver build tight end. There are a couple of U-Tight Ends like Kyle Pitts that would fit the role, they could also convert Harry to that role. If the Patriots can get a good U-Tight end that can draw coverage away from the receivers, it would help greatly. It doesn't have to be Pitts but it must be at least a tier two pass catcher.

Offensive line: the Patriots have Marcus Cannon returning but they have several guys heading to free agency that are going to be looking to get Paid. Isaiah Wynn and Onwenu had decent years, and the Patriots also have Shaq Mason. While David Andrews, Joe Thuney, Jermaine Eluemunor, and James Fernetz are all set to be free agents.

Outlook: There's almost no way the Patriots bring back both Thuney and Andrews. The offensive line was a mess without Andrews in 2019, so the Patriots must do what they can to resign him. The Patriots Onwenu that they can return to guard to replace Thuney and they have a starting offensive line. 

Overall: the Offense is three pieces away providing the team can develop the talent it has under contract, which it must do. If the team can get a solid number one X-receiver and a U-tight end, plus at least a veteran game manager the offense will be good enough to go from 7 to 10 wins as long as Belichick addresses the needs on defense and special teams, including the key free agents.

James White Says There's A Chance, Even Though It's Improbable.

A few Patriots have talked since the 2020 season ended. Some like Devin McCourty have made comments about the quarterback situation, and the Newton bandwagon made sure everyone heard it. James White recently made some comments and he's just as respected, so I am going to share what he said. 

The Cam Newton bandwagon responded to White's comments, saying "we've seen him on the field and Belichick's seen him off the field, so I wouldn't take much from White's comments."

Before I talk about what he said recently, I wanna go back to late in the 2020 season and share somethings both White, McDaniels and Belichick said, as it ties in.

On December 11th, 2020, just three days after quarterback Cam Newton praised Stidham's development as a quarterback, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made the following statement. "Jarrett’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he’s done everything he can do. I don’t think you can ask any more than that."

Around the 22nd of December, 2020 James White appeared on the Dale & Keefe show. Here's what White said, “Jarrett is a good football player. Obviously, you could tell that coming in his rookie year learning and things of that nature. He has all the talent he needs to be successful in this league and I am sure he’s probably excited for whenever he gets the opportunity to step out there and I think he will be great whenever he does.”

The week heading into the December 28 game against Buffalo, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said, “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." He said also said it's Bill's decision who plays.

2020 was a weird year and a lot happened. Stidham was expected to be the starter but mysteriously got injured after practice and took a few days before the team discovered it. Stidham lost the job to Cam due to injury, and found himself in Bill's "doghouse" as he was demoted to third string due to the circumstances of his injury.

Anyone who watched the first half of the Raiders' game, the fourth quarter against the Chiefs, the 49ers' game, and the second game against the division rival Buffalo Bills, knows three of Stidham's four appearances were comparable to Cam Newton's. In fact during the periods I mentioned it be hard to tell the two of them apart, as they both played so poorly and put up near identical stats.

Stidham's play versus the Chargers was just as much reason to have faith in the 2019 draft pick, as Cam Newton's week two performance versus Seattle. His strike to Gunner Olszewski on a perfectly timed throw on a timing route was something Newton struggled with, not only the entire 2020 season but throughout his career. 

Now on to James White's comments. White talked about Stidham again recently on SiriusXM NFL Radio. White has practiced all season with Jarrett Stidham and got to see what he looks like off the field, where fans couldn't. White has spent six years with Tom Brady, so he knows what a good quarterback looks like.

This is what White told SuriusXM, “Jarrett Stidham, he’s young, he’s talented. I am sure he’s chomping at the bit to get his opportunity. I think he will be a guy that can get some things done. … He works hard. Strong arm, studies hard, prepares hard and it’s tough being a backup. He may not get many reps as he wants to, but he stayed motivated throughout that entire season. He got to play sometimes towards the end of games. He’s a young guy excited to get out there. You want to play those four full quarters and get your opportunity. I am sure he’s working hard this offseason to prove that he can do that.”

The Patriots had lots of praise throughout both the 2019 season and spring of 2020 for Stidham. However, Belichick did want to sit and develop him for another year before making a decision on whether he had starting potential but Tom Brady wanted out. Cam Newton was available and Bill Belichick signed him. The Patriots players came out in force and praised Newton but what else were they gonna say, he's a bum? 

Former Patriots and ex Carolina Panther Kyle Love basically said that Newton had a fragile ego and that the Panthers never criticized him but Brady would get ran through the mud by Patriots coaches. Players talk, and the Patriots do their homework. 

In fact it was reported the Patriots met with and did their homework on Newton well before signing him. If they knew Newton had mental issues, they more than likely gave a heads up to the team on protocol on how to treat and react to Newton.

Newton was named a captain quickly, which is not a surprise for a starting quarterback. However, even when Newton was playing bad, coach Belichick refused to not only criticize but to start or reopen a competition with Stidham. Was Belichick worried about losing the locker room, was Stidham that bad, or was Bill afraid of damaging Cam's ego? 

With White's comments about Stidham, I am going to assume it wasn't because Stidham played bad, regardless of what the Newton bandwagon says. Everyone remembers Ryan Leaf's fragile ego, Bill wouldn't want to go through that, and if Cam was truly that liked, he wouldn't want to risk losing the locker room either by starting Stidham.

Newton is currently a free agent and it is believed the Patriots will not be resigning him, even though he has support of Devin McCourty. Stidham is still on the roster and there are three camps concerning him. One camp that believes he was redshirted and will be in competition for the starting job in 2021. A second camp who believes Stidham will be the backup until his rookie contract expires, and a third camp that believes Stidham will be out of the league come week one.

Now, There are a few average tiered quarterbacks that could come in and help develop a rookie or compete with Stidham in 2020. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, and Tyrod Taylor all could come in and be a game manager in the Patriots offense. There are also a handful of quarterbacks in the draft that the Patriots could go after, with Mac Jones being at the top of the Board. 

The Patriots on offense currently need an X-receiver and a reliable pass catching tight end, preferably a U-tight end. It just so happens that Kyle Pitts, a U-tight end who is the closest the Patriots will get to Travis Kelce, maybe available at the same time Mac Jones is. 

If the Patriots believe Stidham is their guy, or that there's a quarterback coming out next year that they want, they will go after Pitts instead of Jones, and then build for the Future. It's very possible Belichick can draft players that can make the team competitive in 2021. Regardless of what the strategy is, if Stidham is going to be allowed compete, it makes Belichick's job that much easier.

Like it or not, Jarrett Stidham has a chance of being the Patriots starter in 2021. It maybe a small chance, and we'll know more as the offseason progresses but for now it's something we as fans must keep in mind. I mean nobody thought Antonio Brown or Cam Newton would get signed by the Patriots, and everyone was wrong. And most everybody thinks there's no way in hell that Stidham starts in 2021 but Belichick's proven us all wrong before. 

Do we really want to continue to rule things out of possibility regardless of how improbable they are, just to get prove wrong again and again or are we going to learn to accept that anything is possible with the Patriots, until the window passes.

Forty One Combined Day One, Two, And Three Prospects For The Patriots.

The New England Patriots enter the 2021 draft needing to hit on all three phases. Some of the players I liked are returning to school in 2021. After spending most of the night looking at top 500 players, these were the players that stood out to me as both fits & needs for the Patriots. Minimum three per position.

Some of them are hybrids but versatile is something the Patriots covet. The ranking projections are the rounds I read for these players, with exception to Tuulima and the legs. I did not include any scouting information. There's at least 41 players

I did not specifically look for gunners, or, return specialists,  There maybe a couple of honorable mentions.

Quarterbacks: 

Mac Jones Alabama in the first

Ian Book Notre Dame in the third or fourth

Zac Thomas App St. in the sixth or seventh

***Keep an eye on Dustin Crum from Kent State in 2022 if they don't draft a quarterback.***

Running Backs: (Pass catching ability)

Javonte Williams UNC in round one or two

Michael Carter UNC Day two pick

Rhamondre Stevenson Oklahoma day three pick

***The Patriots have J.J. Taylor who was a pass catching back in college and B. Bolden is a Burkhead light with special team ability.*** since writing this the Patriots re-signed James White.

Receivers:

Amon-Ra St. Brown USC in round one

Nico Collins Michigan in the third or fourth round

Michael Strachan Charleaton day three pick

Rico Bussey Hawaii UDFA (Honorable mention)

Jared Smart Hawaii UDFA (Honorable mention)

Tight Ends:

Kyle Pitts Florida round one (Next Jimmy Graham)

Hunter Long BC on day two (Kittle Clone)

Tre McKitty Georgia on day three (Trey Burton clone)

Tackles:

Jalen Mayfield Michigan round one or two.

Dillon Radunz North Dakota St. day two pick

Adrian Ealy Oklahoma day three

Kohl Laveo Hawaii (honorable mention)

Interior Offensive Linemen:

Creed Humphrey Oklahoma on day one

Josh Meyers OSU day two 

Taaga Tuulima Hawaii day three

Tommy Kraemer Notre Dame day three

Gene Pryor Hawaii (Honorable mention)

Defensive Tackle: (Nose Guards)

Tyler Shelvin LSU rounds one or two

Tedarrell Slaton Florida rounds three or four

Bobby Brown  TA&M day three

Edge:

Carlos Basham Wake Forset round one or two

Joe Tyron - Washington day two pick

Jamar Watson Kentucky day three pick

Linebackers:

Dylan Moses Alabama round one

Cameron McGrone Michigan day two

Baron Browning OSU day two

Cornerbacks:

Asante Samuel Jr Florida St. day one pick

Ambry Thomas  Michigan day two pick

TJ Carter Memphis day three

Cortez Davis Hawaii day three

Safties:

Trevon Moehrig TCU day one or two pick

Shawn Wade OSU day two pick

Reed Blankenship Middle Tennessee St. day three pick

Eugene Ford Hawaii day three (honorable mention)

Updated: Seventh round Projections:

Kickers: 

Riley Patterson Memphis 

Jose Borregales Miami 

Conor Culp Nebraska 

Anders Carlson Auburn

***Patriots should sign free agent Jonathan Song 2020 rookie from TCU, reviewed his tape, he has a 60 yard leg and was 90%+ accurate in college.***

Punters:

Draguicevich Wash. St.

Long Snapper:

Colten Menges Alcorn State

If I get requests, I'll write scouting reports for specific players. A twitter friend @McChickenvlogs is an encyclopedia on draft prospects and could give a more in depth evaluation. 

A look at Marvin Jones

Marvin Jones has been linked to the Patriots for some time now. The Patriots reportedly wanted to trade for him before the deadline and it's rumored the club will pursue him in free agency. It's debatable if Jones is a true number one but he is an elite number two. Jones was the Lions number one, with Hockenson a close number two. 

Here's why the Patriots are going to like him. Jones Stands 6'2" and weights 198 pounds. That's a little big for a slot but that's what Jones is. Jones also has the ability to play the flanker position as well but is not the most desirable target at the X receiver role.

Jones ran a 4.4 forty time and a 6.8 three cone drill. Jones's  bread and butter are the short to intermediate routes, so he should fit in with the Patriots offense and be able to fill that Danny Amendola role as the number two slot, allowing Meyers and Lee to focus on being the flanker. Leaving Harry the odd man out unless he converts to U-Tight End. Olszewski would also likely be gone.

Player profiler ranked Jones the 40th best at getting separation and the 3rd best in drops. They also ranked him 5th in contested catches, 22nd in receptions and 19th in receiving yards.

Jones is a decent blocker and can help in the punt return game, making Gunner Olszewski expendable. While Jones has not been used in the NFL, he returned 14 punts in his final year of college for a 7.3 yard average.

In 2020, Jones caught 76 of his 115 targets for 978 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jones had the benefit of Matt Stafford throwing him the ball. If the Patriots were serious about signing him,  it would probably be a front loaded 3 year, $17 million dollar contract.

The thing that may chase Jones away is the Patriots don't currently have a plan at quarterback and Cam Newton's 2020 performance could be enough to scare off any pass catcher of value if he returns in 2021. Plus Jones isn't the type of pass catcher Newton needs.

The Patriots  will still need an X receiver which they could get in the draft or possible free agency if they are smart about it. A signing that could make sense if they bring in Jones, is Corey Davis on a front loaded 3 year $19 million contract. That would give the Patriots an X receiver and allow them to develop a rookie X. Never the less, Jones and Edelman would give the Patriots two number two receivers and if Lee returns at top form, three number two receivers, and then there's Meyers who could improve.

The Patriots Best options at quarterback

The Patriots find themselves still in need of a quarterback following the March 2020 departure of Tom Brady. Many thought the answer was either Jarrett Stidham or Cam Newton entering the 2020 season. Following the 2020 season, it looks like the Patriots are back at square one in replacing Tom Brady.

The Patriots have some options but do they have the ability to take advantage of those options, that is the million dollar question. The Patriots have some cap room and the number fifteen pick in this upcoming draft but they really don't have the pass catchers to lure in a great quarterback.

Cam Newton could return. Although he could not operate the Patriots timing offense and was inaccurate, Cam was very good on the ground. The Patriots would need to scrap their playbook-system of twenty years if he returns for a more turnover prone offense.

Newton can be a bridge quarterback and show any young quarterback how to run the football, while his passing will show every quarterback what not to do. Newton seems to have the favor of the locker room and coach Belichick, even though his mechanics are about as bad as Tim Tebow's.

Jarrett Stidham got injured and failed to beat out Cam Newton for the starting spot. Stidham's play all season was comparable to Cam Newton's as a passer. There is a thought among some that Belichick redshirted Stidham in 2020 and kept him reserved to mop up duty. Others see him as just as bad of a passer as Cam Newton.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is finishing up his career in Miami, with Tua looking likely as the Dolphins Starter in 2021. Fitzpatrick went 4 - 3 as a starter and threw 13 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, while completing 68.5 percent of his passes. Fitzpatrick would be a one to two year quarterback for the Patriots and buy them time to develop a quarterback.

Jacoby Brissett is a 29 year old free agent. Who has a 12 - 20 record as a starter for the colts. Brissett lost his starting spot to Philip Rivers in 2020. During his time in Indy, Brissett has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 6059 yards with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Brissett has also rushed for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns on 143 carries. 

The Patriots have other free agent options but none seem as likely to come to fruition. The Patriots could select a quarterback with the number 15 pick. 

Mac Jones from Alabama seems like the best fit. He is a pocket quarterback who can run the Patriots style offense and do what the Patriots expect of a quarterback. Jones would be asked to be a game manager in his rookie year if he starts. The Patriots would have him run a limited offense and rely on the run game and defense.

The Patriots have other options available in the draft. The team could seek to make a trade if they are not keen on any of the quarterbacks in the draft or free agency.

The most likely trade target would be Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo has not looked like the quarterback he was hyped to be before leaving New England but that could be because San Francisco is a difference offense. The 27 year old has a record of 27-8 with the 49ers and has helped guide them to one superbowl appearance. 

In his 30 games with the niners, Garoppolo has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 7352 yards with 51 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He's also found his way into the endzone twice with his legs. The big knock on Jimmy Garoppolo is he has been injury prone since leaving the Patriots.

The last option the Patriots have is to get Scott Zolak to come out of retirement. He's old but just around the corner. Just kidding.

The Patriots should sign Brian Hoyer to be the quarterback coach. It was his mental ability that helped the Patriots win Superbowl 53 and he's spent a lot of time helping mentor younger quarterbacks.

Whatever the Patriots do at quarterback this season could have major impact on how the team does the next few seasons on their field and in free agency.

The Patriots will need to help out whomever the quarterback is with at least one weapon in this year's draft. While not the best at getting separation, the weapons on the roster should be more productive with anyone under center that's not Cam Newton, more due to Cam needing a larger wing spanned pass catcher.

One thing is for certain, the Patriots have fans anxiously waiting for them to make a decision on the position, and no matter who they go with, not everyone will be happy. 

Bill Belichick has drafted 12 quarterbacks throughout his tenure as Head Coach but only had 1 above average starter.

In 1991 Bill Belichick became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. He spent five seasons as head coach. During his time there, he had inherited Bernie Kosar and signed free agent Vinny Testaverde. During his Tenure in New England, Belichick Inherited Drew Bledsoe, drafted Tom Brady, Drafted Matt Cassel who started fifteen games in 2008, and signed Cam Newton.

Over his tenure, what quarterbacks has Belichick drafted and how many how good are they?

During his time as head coach in Cleveland, Belichick or the Browns only drafted Keithen McCant. Safe bet nobody remembers him as he barely even had a CFL career.

In New England Belichick has drafted Tom Brady, Rohan Davey, Kilff Kingsbury, Matt Cassel, Kevin O'Connell, Zac Robinson, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Danny Etling, Jarrett Stidham. Plus a few undrafted free agents mostb noticeably Brian Hoyer. New England drafted: 1 - second round pick, 3 - third round, 2 - fourth round, 2 - sixth round, and 3 - seventh round. Plus a plethora of undrafted quarterbacks.

Of the quarterbacks drafted, not named Brady, plus undrafted quarterback Brian Hoyer, Belichick's 12 guys (including McCant) have had the following combined career stats. 192 starts, 3938 completions 6558 attempts, 44642 yards, 249 touchdowns, 170 interceptions. 693 Rushing attempts, 1861 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns. 

Most of those stats came from five players, Garoppolo and Brissett will continue to add to this total but individually, none of these guys had impressive careers.

In comparison Tom Brady has started 299 regular season games. Completed 6778 of 10698 passes. Thrown for 79204 yards, 581 touchdowns and 181 interceptions. Brady also has rushed for 636 attempts for 1043 yards and 25 touchdowns. 

Here's the question. Can Belichick develop a day one or two draft pick into a quality starter. Belichick's drafted four day two quarterbacks throughout his New England career. Only 2 of those 4 have had decent careers, Brissett and Garoppolo but that came after leaving New England, so how much credit goes to Belichick for their development?

Belichick still has Stidham under contract who looks like a fourth round bust. Will Bill draft a quarterback in 2021 or will he turn to a developed free agent? For the long term solution, Bill must draft and develop a quarterback. This is what's gonna help the Belichick silence the Don Shula crowd.

Harrison makes comment on Newton that many were saying in August about the 2020 season.

Former safety and NFL great Rodney Harrison thinks it would be a mistake for the Patriots to re-sign Cam Newton. Harrison works with NBC and played fifteen years in the NFL, six with the Patriots during their defensive lead dynasty in the early 2000s.

Harrison was recently on with Tom Curran and was asked about the idea of Belichick giving Newton a second year. 

Harrison said, "That would be the worst decision Bill has ever made because now you're not being fair to your team. When I saw what I saw with Cam, every time I saw Cam pretty much I was hurt. Because I was a guy that believed in Cam, and when you see him drop back and he continues to throw the ball into the ground, throw it five feet or five yards above somebody else, you're like 'What are you doing, Cam?' 

You have to find a quarterback. It would be a terrible mistake for Bill Belichick to bring Cam back because Cam can't play football anymore. He just can't play quarterback in the National Football League," Harrison said with conviction.

I am glad Harrison brought up accuracy issues with Cam but it wasn't just on incompletions. Newton would put the ball in bad placement on completions as well. Throwing jump balls on screens, putting the ball at back shoulders, ect. 

Josh McDaniels was criticized for not opening the playbook but after the loss to Houston, Ryan Hannable said basically the same thing. 

Hannable said, "Newton cannot make simple throws, so why would the team feel comfortable letting him loose and allow him to do more? Sure some will hit, but it's not something sustainable."

Hannable would go on to add, "Furthermore, Newton struggled to identify and handle the blitz." Hannable wasn't done there saying, " In sum, the Patriots offense is getting held back by Newton in certain instances, but given potential options this offseason it’s quite possible the quarterback returns for a second season in New England."

In December after the Dolphins game, Evan Lazr gave Newton praise where it was due but followed with, "However, he’s also hurting the offense in some instances with poor timing on his throws and isn’t maximizing opportunities that present themselves."

Cam Newton should potential in his first two games running all over the Miami Dolphins week one, and Passing all over the Seahawks in week two. Although the Patriots would make second half adjustments, the first half versus the Raiders in week three was a sign of things to come.

Joe Julius of the football Film room wrote, "Despite Newton’s improvements from the pocket in recent years, he is still inconsistent due to this lack of precision to his game. You can get away with that at times as a quarterback. But in those key moments where defenses dial up more disguises and blitz pressure, the small details of playing the position (footwork, mechanics, timing, ball placement, etc.) matter more. Newton doesn’t always exhibit these. In Week 6, it resulted in a lackluster offensive performance."

Evan Lazar and several writers or analysts started saying after the Denver game that Coaches tape showed Newton had guys open but wasn't seeing them. Lazar at one point went on to say, " Macro issue the Patriots don't have enough at receiver, Micro issue there's definitely mistakes that Cam is making out there."

Darren Hartwell of NBC after watching game footage to that point of the season said the following after the loss to the 49ers. This was in response to Newton not throwing to the right. Hartwell said, "What's going on here? Is Newton favoring the left side of the field due to a mechanical issue in his throwing motion..."

How does a quarterback hit open pass catchers if they're not throwing to one side of the field? This is just an example to show Newton missing open pass catchers.

YouTube video content creator YaBoySavage, did a video showing three plays versus Buffalo. In the video he acknowledges the Patriots pass catchers aren't the best but says even with Greg Olsen, that "the 2020 Patriots are better than the 15-1 Panthers team that Newton played on." He goes on to show film that shows guys open and poor accuracy, timing, and mechanics by Cam.

See the video https://youtu.be/VQSyuSlJLaY

However majority of Newton's flaws was something we've all known since Camp when Tom Curran was saying "nobody separated themselves apart in the quarterback competition", and Boomer Esiason was saying, "The bottom line is Stidham got hurt, Cam got in there and they are paying him no money whatsoever. I don’t think he’s that accurate on third down. I think if he turns the football over that is when a change could come.” 

Some in Patriots nation just chose to ignore it, attacking those who criticized Cam as either unintelligent, racist or both. Sometimes these statements were true and somewhere unjustified insults because people didn't have tunnel vision of 2015 Cam Newton.

On September 3rd, in my article 'Cam Newton Declared The Starter For Now.' I wrote the following statement.

"Newton would see more reps but as several writers acknowledged, Newton was inconsistent and inaccurate. Newton wasn't pulling a head and the two quarterbacks stayed even in play. Newton's worst day saw him complete 46% of 28 passes. Newton showed some reason for concern, as he had several dropped interceptions and was made to do a lap for lack of ball security.

Belichick dragged the competition out hoping that one of his two quarterbacks would eventually run away with the job. Even with Newton getting more reps, that didn't happen. Hence, Belichick had to name a starter with only days before week one."

It look looked more and more like Belichick's hand was forced as the season went on.

Tom Curran and Boomer Esiason weren't the only ones to criticize Cam Newton's passing ability as Evan Lazar went on to say, "7 on 7 drills, accuracy and so on isn't Newton's game. His game is running around, beating you with his legs and arms strength."

Look, I am sure if people go through the hundreds of articles from the quarterback competition that we'll find many saying that Newton was a good athlete but subpar passer. 

It's funny how so many people were criticized, insulted, and ignored for saying Cam wasn't the guy, including a few former Patriots like Rich Ohrnberger, who gave reason to think 2020 could've been a redshirt year for Stidham. Yet Rodney Harrison comes out and says "it would be a mistake" to roll with Newton in 2021 and everyone pays attention. Guess some former Patriots have more pull than others.

Amendola Respects Belichick The Head Coach, Not Belichick The General Manager.

Danny "Playoff" Amendola recently had a six minute interview with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, on February second. Amendola was signed to be Wes Welker's replacement in New England. His first game on September 8th, 2013 versus the Buffalo Bills saw Amendola catch ten passes for one hundred four yards. Amendola had got hurt that game but came back to help the Patriots win 23 - 21.

Although Amendola would end up falling to between the number three to number five receiver, his week one performance in 2013 was just one of many memorable games throughout his five seasons with the Patriots. 

Colin frames a loaded question for Amendola asking that "he got tired of it, it wore him out, sacrifice money, sacrifice individualism, I get it, when you left there were you a little worn out?"

Amendola says, "I was a huge fan of Bill and the way he coached and his tactics and what he did to prepare us for the game. I loved playing for Bill. In a lot of ways it's why I went to Detroit and got to play for Patricia. But the fact that he also wore the GM hat, and I had to negotiate my contract with him three years in a row by myself and and take pay cuts to help him and put rings on his finger kind of wore me the wrong way. So I felt like it was in the best interest for me to move on.”

Listen to the New England fan base, listen to Patriots nation for a second. Half the fan base give or take echos the same sentiment with Belichick. They love him as a head coach but hate him as a GM. Many calling Bill Belichick cheap or say he has no idea how to scout good players. At the same time, calling Belichick the greatest head coach of all time.

Take Demaryius Thomas, Thomas could've signed with contenders but held out because general manager Belichick asked him to. Thomas let opportunities pass and resigned with the Patriots after being cut, only for Belichick to trade him to the Jets. Reportedly "going back on his word " according to Thomas, while Belichick said "it was just business and things changed."

It's the ruthless all business side of Belichick that his players hate and that has worked for him. Business above feelings is the Patriots way. It's why so many people had an issue with Bill being human in 2020, questioning if Bill's feelings kept him from naming a new starter after the L.A. loss in 2020.

Cowherd asked Amendola another loaded question to help fuel the Brady - Belichick debate. Cowherd asked "It's not anti-Bill but Tom leaving, does it prove it was more about the player than the coach?"

Amendola responded, “Yeah. I’m definitely not anti-Bill, man. I love what he’s done and how he approaches the game as a head coach. Again, business is business. And I learned from Bill, you’ve gotta do business as business is being done. If he wants to cut your pay in half, and you can get more on the street and you can go somewhere else and help provide for your family, then that’s what you gotta do. I feel like that’s the same reason Tom [Brady] is out of New England and he’s on to Tampa.”

Cowherd Attempts to get Amendola to get all narcissistic, saying Amendola "had 150 yards against the eagles, that Brady Trusted him."

Amendola responded, "I'm a system guy so I was running around, trying to do my job brother."

Amendola's response was humble. Here's the thing, majority of people only read headlines and go off of what people say. People are more likely to tune into a talk or news program than to read, however they're even more likely to accept hearsay from friends or family. And, the media's job is to get clicks or views.

Let's be real, If we go back and look, we can probably find negative comments from Drew Bledsoe, Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, and Jimmy G. after their Patriots tenure ended. These guys were all loved and many still are by Patriots nation. 

Take Jacoby Brissett. I am going to be honest, I didn't pay much attention to what Brissett actually said when he was quoted as saying he didn't want to be drafted by New England. I took the headines and went with the opinion that it was just another former Patriots being bitter. Had I of read the articles, I would've known that the headlines were click bait. Sometimes all the media wants to do is stir the pot with the headline.

I have no issues with anything Amendola said. People can have respect for their former employers and not like how they did specific things. So Amendola saying he liked Bill as a coach and not as a GM, I get that. 

Let's be real, the pay cuts did help Amendola put a rings on Belichick's finger but at the same time it also helped Amendola's career. That whole thing is just like the Brady Belichick debate. It's pointless and the only ones who care is the fan base and the media who knows they can make money off of it. Let the story be dropped already.