Marcus Mariota among QB choices for Patriots to explore – New England Patriots Weblog

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit views and notes close to the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. QB talk: Patriots Corridor of Famer and present-day ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi is familiar with the hottest subject surrounding his previous crew is who plays quarterback in 2021, and he is leaning toward a veteran.

“Monthly bill [Belichick], and a person he has yrs of tape on, is a minimal little bit far more cozy than trying to go the more youthful route as a result of the draft,” Bruschi claimed in his weekly visual appeal on sporting activities radio WEEI. “Establish the group in general through the draft, and locate a excellent veteran quarterback. That could be the way to go right here.”

Some prospects contain:

• Tannehill model: Could Las Vegas QB Marcus Mariota be the most practical selection numerous are overlooking? Similar to how Ryan Tannehill identified results in Tennessee, Mariota could do the very same in New England. The Raiders are projected to be above the salary cap, and retaining Mariota as a backup to Derek Carr, with an $11.3 million wage-cap demand, could possibly be a luxury they are not able to pay for. The Raiders announced very last week that No. 3 quarterback Nathan Peterman signed a just one-yr extension.

• Garoppolo, Element II: Jimmy Garoppolo would be a pure in shape to return, but that would require the San Francisco 49ers be open up to transferring him. No ensure there.

• Goff route: If the Philadelphia Eagles want to dump Carson Wentz like the Rams did Jared Goff — which means they’d send out a large draft select and Wentz to the Patriots — it is a dialogue worth possessing (particularly if Wentz is also inclined to rework his deal). Appears to be not likely.

• Cam’s return: Cam Newton’s limits as a passer hurt the Patriots, but could that seem diverse this period with much better weapons close to him? It is really a reasonable question and why leaving the doorway open, at the very least somewhat, helps make feeling.

• A distinctive No. 1: Jameis Winston boosted his inventory in 2020 as a backup with the New Orleans Saints, who want him back if Drew Brees retires. The Patriots are better positioned to make a operate at him, if intrigued, simply because of their a lot more favorable cap problem.

• Ideal of relaxation: Assuming Dak Prescott is assigned the franchise tag in Dallas, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacoby Brissett, Mitchell Trubisky, Andy Dalton and Tyrod Taylor are other absolutely free-agent opportunities.

From this standpoint, a scenario could be produced for Mariota as the strongest probability, centered on opportunity availability, modest cost and upside. He has played below four coaches and 5 coordinators in six NFL seasons. Possibly the steadiness of the Belichick/Josh McDaniels pairing is a good match for him.

2. Timing on a QB: If the Patriots do not have quarterback clarity by the get started of NFL free agency in mid-March, it could negatively impact their pursuit of broad receivers and limited ends. For illustration, put oneself in the predicament of a person these kinds of as Los Angeles Chargers tight conclude Hunter Henry you might be weighing equivalent absolutely free-agent presents from a team that has a defined quarterback condition, and a single that would not — it could be a decisive tiebreaker.

3. Stafford fallout: Matthew Stafford’s trade to the Los Angeles Rams appeared to be his desire above other alternatives, these types of as New England, Carolina and Washington. Some may have perceived it as a slight to the Patriots’ tradition, but I watch it from a wider context: Stafford has a residence in California and a greater comfort and ease there. Also, just as Stafford didn’t appear to favor the Patriots, the team’s curiosity in him absolutely wasn’t as large as other individuals all around the league.

4. Belichick vs. Brady: Former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola ignited fiery media chatter with his responses to FS1 that Tom Brady, not Belichick, was additional accountable for the “Patriots Way.” It was noteworthy how speedily men and women forgot Brady’s have ideas, from his spring job interview with Howard Stern.

“I believe it is really a fairly s—ty argument, actually, that people today would say that, since I can not do his occupation, he cannot do mine. So the truth you could say, ‘Would I be successful without the need of him, the identical degree of achievements?’ I never think I would have been. But I sense the exact vice versa, as effectively.

“To have him, permitted me to be the greatest I can be, so I am grateful for that. I quite considerably think that he feels the exact same way about me, simply because we have expressed that to each other.”

5. TB12 fan: Patriots defensive tackle Lawrence Man is predicting a reduced-scoring Tampa Bay Buccaneers victory above the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Sunday, but he admits he is biased. In an interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio, he claimed: “When you played with [Brady] for so prolonged, and have an understanding of the hard work he’s offered, you just want him to gain yet another one. He did a little something everybody assumed he couldn’t do — go to a distinctive organization, participate in his butt off, and make it all the way to The Demonstrate. I want him to acquire on a particular be aware, for the reason that the legacy he is leaving is going to make potential players check out to try to be like that.”

6. Patriots eyed Brate: Buccaneers limited stop Cameron Brate was seeking for NFL opportunities just after playing for Harvard. Undrafted, and unable to safe a rookie free of charge-agent contract, his to start with bite arrived with a tryout at the Patriots’ 2014 spring minicamp. No deal. Then the Minnesota Vikings’ spring minicamp. Yet again, no deal. Eventually, standard supervisor Jason Licht gave him the closing location on Tampa Bay’s 90-male offseason roster. Which is the backstory for Patriots followers who might be pondering how Brate — who totaled 91 receptions for 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns at Harvard, and has 29 NFL touchdowns — didn’t land in New England.

7. Uche recovering: The enhancement of Patriots second-12 months linebacker Josh Uche will be significant, and it was unfortunate for him that a foot injuries knocked him out of a 7 days 16 reduction to the Buffalo Expenditures and then the standard-year finale. Uche is section of a group of gamers even now exhibiting up to the stadium as he operates his way again.

8. Patricia outcome: The effects of Matt Patricia’s return to the Patriots, to aid Belichick in a wide variety of roles, could initially show up in how Belichick fills out his staff members. Patricia is bringing along analysis assistant Evan Rothstein from the Lions, and it wouldn’t be stunning if the Detroit pipeline is tapped yet again. Somebody this kind of as assistant offensive line coach Billy Yates, the former Patriot, could warrant thought.

9. Draft nugget: The Patriots struck gold at Louisville in 2002, picking receiver Deion Branch in the 2nd spherical. If they go again to the Cardinals’ pipeline in the 2021 NFL draft, Tutu Atwell is an early-round prospect who could handle the will need for dynamic pace and playmaking skill. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Atwell comes from NFL bloodlines his dad, Tutu Sr., went undrafted out of Minnesota in 1998 and hooked on briefly with the Colts and Lions.

10. Did You Know: Prior to 2021, the past time the NFL didn’t hold the combine in its traditional structure was 1981, when the Patriots had a productive draft with Brian Holloway, Tony Collins, Don Blackmon and Lin Dawson.