Patriots Quarterback situation moving forward

[azsoxpatsfan]

Most people here seem to agree that Mac is anywhere from horrible to mediocre. The thread dedicated to him is the same points made over and over ad nauseam. So the purpose of this thread is to discuss what can be done about this situation.

It seems clear that to be a perennial contender you need an elite quarterback. Looking at where elite quarterbacks are drafted, you clearly don’t NEED a top 5 pick, although it certainly helps. So, what’s the Pats best path forward to getting one? I know next to nothing about college football prospects, so I’ll let other people speak to that. I think trade or free agent is a non-starter, as anyone we could get there is either non-elite or too old to hope for more than a couple years out of. But, assuming we don’t have a top two pick this year, should we draft a QB and try to develop him? Should we run with Mac another year and try to draft someone then? What’s the best path forward

 

[BaseballJones]

I think there’s a rough consensus that there are like five first round caliber QBs in this upcoming draft. The Pats look to be drafting anywhere from like 10-15, depending on how it all shakes out. So they should be able to get one of those guys.

I’ve been as big a Mac defender here as anyone. I was very excited when they drafted him. I see potential. But I am getting worried that his career may be getting away from him. I absolutely think if you put him on SF, for example, that he would be fantastic. And if the Pats let him go, there’s a real chance he finds a better fit and becomes a good, productive NFL QB, and people would be like, how could the Pats give up on this guy?

So is the issue that the Pats don’t have the same quality of offensive players around him that SF has around Purdy? If so, then draft capital needs to be spent on the OL and WR positions, big time. But if Mac simply isn’t the guy moving forward, then they need to keep Mac one more year but don’t commit to the fifth year, and draft a QB in the first round this year and use 2024 to groom that guy for a starting role in 2025 and beyond. Gotta take a shot in this scenario.

I’m not sure what the right answer is, but I’ll say this: yesterdays game didn’t move the needle for me either way. It was a sucky game for basically everyone on the team, obviously Mac included. But those will happen. Brady himself had a lot of sucky games. Josh Allen has. They all do. For me this is about his whole body of work.

 

[rodderick]

Give Kirk Cousins 4/180 this off-season. They have the cap and cash to do that and still bolster the roster. Then you draft a toolsy guy rounds 3-5 and do that again in 2025.

 

[Silverdude2167]

I think there’s a rough consensus that there are like five first round caliber QBs in this upcoming draft. The Pats look to be drafting anywhere from like 10-15, depending on how it all shakes out. So they should be able to get one of those guys.

I’ve been as big a Mac defender here as anyone. I was very excited when they drafted him. I see potential. But I am getting worried that his career may be getting away from him. I absolutely think if you put him on SF, for example, that he would be fantastic. And if the Pats let him go, there’s a real chance he finds a better fit and becomes a good, productive NFL QB, and people would be like, how could the Pars give up on this guy?

So is the issue that the Pats don’t have the same quality of offensive players around him that SF has around Purdy? If so, then draft capital needs to be spent on the OL and WR positions, big time. But if Mac simply isn’t the guy moving forward, then they need to keep Mac one more year but don’t commit to the fifth year, and draft a QB in the first round this year and use 2024 to groom that guy for a starting role in 2025 and beyond. Gotta take a shot in this scenario.

I’m not sure what the right answer is, but I’ll say this: yesterdays game didn’t move the needle for me either way. It was a sucky game for basically everyone on the team, obviously Mac included. But those will happen. Brady himself had a lot of sucky games. Josh Allen has. They all do. For me this is about his whole body of work.

Man, you have some faith.

I have been more pro than anti-Mac, but that game changed my mind.

The fumble and pick-six were inexcusable. I don't know if they win that game if he doesn't gift Dallas 15 points, but he is definitely the reason they lost.

I am now on team draft pick. Without Judon and Gonzalez, this team is fucked, so team draft pick might be pretty good.

 

[BaseballJones]

Give Kirk Cousins 4/180 this off-season. They have the cap and cash to do that and still bolster the roster. Then you draft a toolsy guy rounds 3-5 and do that again in 2025.

If they're going to do that, then I look to trade Mac for anything they can get before the trade deadline. Let Zappe run the show the rest of the year and if it only leads to 2 wins, so be it.

Then trade whatever they need to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. So you go from: QB Mac, WR1 Parker to QB Cousins, WR1 Harrison

Pretty significant upgrade. They still need to address the OL, but they can then use other draft picks to do that, and the D should still be solid with decent health.

 

[BaseballJones]

Man, you have some faith.

I have been more pro than anti-Mac, but that game changed my mind.

The fumble and pick-six were inexcusable. I don't know if they win that game if he doesn't gift Dallas 15 points, but he is definitely the reason they lost.

I am now on team draft pick. Without Judon and Gonzalez, this team is fucked, so team draft pick might be pretty good.

Ah...it's one game. Every QB - even the great ones - make terrible plays and have absolutely crappy games. Happens to the best of them. The issue for me is that Mac has yet to really show that he's....actually GOOD. And this is year 3.

 

[rodderick]

If they're going to do that, then I look to trade Mac for anything they can get before the trade deadline. Let Zappe run the show the rest of the year and if it only leads to 2 wins, so be it.

Then trade whatever they need to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. So you go from: QB Mac, WR1 Parker to QB Cousins, WR1 Harrison

Pretty significant upgrade. They still need to address the OL, but they can then use other draft picks to do that, and the D should still be solid with decent health.

Let Mac play out the string. I want to be absolutely sure there's nothing there. If this is what he is I'd proceed with my plan, if he shows some fight and resilience I could give him year 4. I just think Cousins is a substantial upgrade at the most important position, don't subscribe at all to the idea that Mac is already close to that level and just lacks the weapons.

 

[rodderick]

Ah...it's one game. Every QB - even the great ones - make terrible plays and have absolutely crappy games. Happens to the best of them. The issue for me is that Mac has yet to really show that he's....actually GOOD. And this is year 3.

Yup, this is an outlier in the bad sense, my issue is that his peak performance isn't anything to write home about. There's no 380 yard, 4 TD game coming to compensate for this one. There's 23-31 for 202 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 16 points against the Saints or something of the sort. That Dolphins game is "wow, he was really good today" performance from Mac.

 

[Salva135]

Give Kirk Cousins 4/180 this off-season. They have the cap and cash to do that and still bolster the roster. Then you draft a toolsy guy rounds 3-5 and do that again in 2025.

Sounds cool. Who's coaching him? Because the guy who hands out that contract won't be BB.

 

[rodderick]

Sounds cool. Who's coaching him? Because the guy who hands out that contract won't be BB.

The thread asks "what's the path forward?", not "what do you think Bill Belichick/Kraft will do?". I know Bill would rather play out the string with mediocre QB play for peanuts, I just think that's utterly stupid in today's NFL.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Yesterday was more of the same. The NFL is too much for Jones.

Pining for Cousins is asking for more mediocrity and about the same amount of mental mistakes. No thank you.

The draft is a bunch of unknowns. Look at the 2021 class now. Lawrence, Wilson, Lance, Fields, Jones. Trevor hasn’t exactly been a world beater. The rest look… unimpressive.

If the last 20 years has taught us anything, it’s that there is no exact science to finding a starting caliber QB.

I would like to see what Cunningham can do. Kid has a decent arm, and can make plays with his scrambling ability. Let’s get a different dynamic out there.

 

[Toe Nash]

The right thing to do for the franchise is to tank for Caleb Williams who seems to be the best prospect since Luck and maybe better. I know no one around the team will ever come out and say it but in a league without a draft lottery where QBs are so important and they're not making the playoffs anyway it's true. Whatever lessons any players learn from winning 7 games, most of them will be on a different team or retired the next time they win the super bowl and you can learn things from winning 2 games too.

Unfortunately that is also the right thing to do for the Jets, Bears, Cardinals, Broncos, Giants, maybe Panthers (even if they trade the pick). The Pats do have a tough schedule, but Belichick will never really tank and the defensive unit is good enough to win them a few games.

An interesting question is what kind of package would you put together for the Panthers if you were at say #4 to move up to #1 but I don't think Bill would do that either, and you'd have to likely beat out the teams listed above anyway.

So...I think you just stay the course, try to build out the rest of the team, look for tackles and high-upside passcatchers, take a QB prospect in the first round if you like him and he's there but otherwise look to sign Cousins or someone else who is decent for a contract you can still get out of if you need to. Getting some real offensive linemen will help any QB so that should be a huge focus this offseason, but sometimes you can get those guys in FA too. It's going to be a few years and BB has to nail some drafts. It would nice if he had a few more picks, but the only person who they really could have traded for anything was probably Judon (no idea if his contract is even conducive to that) who now is hurt.

 

[rodderick]

Yesterday was more of the same. The NFL is too much for Jones.

Pining for Cousins is asking for more mediocrity and about the same amount of mental mistakes. No thank you.

The draft is a bunch of unknowns. Look at the 2021 class now. Lawrence, Wilson, Lance, Fields, Jones. Trevor hasn’t exactly been a world beater. The rest look… unimpressive.

If the last 20 years has taught us anything, it’s that there is no exact science to finding a starting caliber QB.

I would like to see what Cunningham can do. Kid has a decent arm, and can make plays with his scrambling ability. Let’s get a different dynamic out there.

I really wonder what NFL people are watching that they still don't think there's a wide gulf of production and ability between Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins. If you don't think he's worth the money that's perfectly reasonable, just don't tell me he's the same.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I really wonder what NFL people are watching that they still don't think there's a wide gulf of production and ability between Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins. If you don't think he's worth the money that's perfectly reasonable, just don't tell me he's the same.

What product are you watching? As someone who has closely followed the Vikes I can tell you that Cousins is just as bad under pressure. He’s a turnover waiting to happen. Without Justin Jefferson he’d be out of a job.

 

[rodderick]

What product are you watching? As someone who has closely followed the Vikes I can tell you that Cousins is just as bad under pressure. He’s a turnover waiting to happen. Without Justin Jefferson he’d be out of a job.

Yeah, that career 7.00 ANY/A as a starter without Justin Jefferson is real backup material. Not to mention his career INT% is 2.1. He's not especially turnover prone by any estimation.

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

I don’t think Mac is the guy long term, mainly because he is going to get expensive in a year or two and I don’t think he adds that kind of value. I’d be fine trading him if they could get something for him, but that seems unlikely, and I think he probably walks after his rookie deal.

I wouldn’t spend a dollar of free agent money or a high draft pick on a QB until the OLine is fixed, and there is at least some promise among the pass catchers. Just roll with the next iteration of Bailey Zappe.

The exception to this is Caleb Williams. I don’t think they’ll have a shot as the Bears and the Cardinals control the top of this draft (Bears have Carolina’s pick) and both are likely looking for a QB. But if Judon and Gonzales are out long term, the Pats could be in that mix. The Jets too-that last game of the year could be interesting.

 

[moondog80]

Unfortunately that is also the right thing to do for the Jets, Bears, Cardinals, Broncos, Giants, maybe Panthers (even if they trade the pick). The Pats do have a tough schedule, but Belichick will never really tank and the defensive unit is good enough to win them a few games.

An interesting question is what kind of package would you put together for the Panthers if you were at say #4 to move up to #1 but I don't think Bill would do that either, and you'd have to likely beat out the teams listed above anyway.

The Bears already own the Panthers' pick, putting them squarely on the inside track for Caleb Williams. But it's early...

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Give Kirk Cousins 4/180 this off-season. They have the cap and cash to do that and still bolster the roster. Then you draft a toolsy guy rounds 3-5 and do that again in 2025.

Kirk Cousins is a dyed-in-the wool choke artist who will never lead a team to winning anything. And he has a very long history of proving it. No thank you.

 

[Remagellan]

No QB is a sure thing. I've been a USC fan since I was a kid, and Caleb does look special, but so did a lot of guys once upon a time, including the guy that denied the Trojans the chance to repeat in 2005--Vince Young. Look at the list of Heisman Trophy winners; it is littered with the names of guys who were supposed to be special. Once upon a time, Drew Bledsoe and Rick Mirer were supposed to be special--only Drew was, kind of. (If the standard is winning championships.) Once, both Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were supposed to be special; Peyton was, Ryan was far from so. Andrew Luck was special, right? Except, all things considered, including the desire to play the game, was he?

My point is I don't see Belichick tanking a season for a lottery ticket, no matter how seemingly golden the prize may be.

 

[BigSoxFan]

No QB is a sure thing. I've been a USC fan since I was a kid, and Caleb does look special, but so did a lot of guys once upon a time, including the guy that denied the Trojans the chance to repeat in 2005--Vince Young. Look at the list of Heisman Trophy winners; it is littered with the names of guys who were supposed to be special. Once upon a time, Drew Bledsoe and Rick Mirer were supposed to be special--only Drew was, kind of. (If the standard is winning championships.) Once, both Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were supposed to be special; Peyton was, Ryan was far from so. Andrew Luck was special, right? Except, all things considered, including the desire to play the game, was he?

My point is I don't see Belichick tanking a season for a lottery ticket, no matter how seemingly golden the prize may be.

We know BB would probably rather quit than tank a season but Gregg Popovich is about to find out the value of doing so. BB needs his Wemby.

 

[lexrageorge]

We know BB would probably rather quit than tank a season but Gregg Popovich is about to find out the value of doing so. BB needs his Wemby.

Tanking in the NFL works far less frequently than tanking in the NBA, which itself doesn't work nearly as well as its proponents claim.

 

[Mooch]

The most valuable commodity in the NFL is a quality QB on a rookie contract. Adding Cousins at that kind of salary requires cutting back at other positions. I’m a fan of rebooting at QB with a rookie next year. Full steam ahead on tankathon 2023.

 

[rodderick]

The most valuable commodity in the NFL is a quality QB on a rookie contract. Adding Cousins at that kind of salary requires cutting back at other positions. I’m a fan of rebooting at QB with a rookie next year. Full steam ahead on tankathon 2023.

There are plenty of teams paying their QBs big money with more talented rosters than the Patriots. They have the most cap space in football in 2024 and 2025. Their margin for maneuvering is basically endless. They can sign pretty much whoever they want.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Cousins stinks, I honestly can't believe anyone would seriously consider signing him. He is the anti-Brady, there's never been a big game where he hasn't come up small.

 

[rodderick]

Cousins stinks, I honestly can't believe anyone would seriously consider signing him. He is the anti-Brady, there's never been a big game where he hasn't come up small.

Last year alone he won more games when his defense gave up 24+ points than the Pats have since 2018. I think he'd be pretty good here when 20 is enough most weeks.

 

[8slim]

The most valuable commodity in the NFL is a quality QB on a rookie contract. Adding Cousins at that kind of salary requires cutting back at other positions. I’m a fan of rebooting at QB with a rookie next year. Full steam ahead on tankathon 2023.

Sure, but the second most valuable commodity in the NFL is a great QB on a huge contract.

I’m not necessarily advocating throwing money at any ol’ QB. But there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Build up the OL and skill position weapons, and then throwing money at a FA makes some sense.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Let Mac play out the string. I want to be absolutely sure there's nothing there. If this is what he is I'd proceed with my plan, if he shows some fight and resilience I could give him year 4. I just think Cousins is a substantial upgrade at the most important position, don't subscribe at all to the idea that Mac is already close to that level and just lacks the weapons.

With the exception of the Cousins part of the post, this is where I stand (and frankly, I don't think there is any other option). I didn't see a lot of yesterday's game (huge Calcutta golf tournament this weekend), but what I did see was abysmal. Mac was the worst, but nobody played well. These games happen, and given the size of the action I put on Dallas, it wasn't hard to see it coming either.

But Dear God, not Cousins. He is the king of empty stats playing behind good offensive lines, with good/great skill position players and in a domed stadium.

In the dome, he's 31-22 with a completion % of 69.25%, he averages 275.8ypg, 111tds, and 30ints, and a 106.1 rating. His Y/A is 7.93 and his AY/A is 8.40.

Take him outside, he's 41-41 with a completion % of 65.26%, averages 254.8ypg, 135tds, 70ints and a 92.8 rating. His Y/A drops to 7.41 and his AY/A drops to 7.26.


And that's not even taking into account his very large body of work of shitting down his leg at the worst times. And we're not talking just incompletions, we're talking game changing mistakes.

Just in the four games this season:


He lost a fumble on a snap at the TB 2 yard line, fumbled inside his own 20, and threw a pick in the red zone. The Vikes lost that game 20-17.

In week 2, he was strip sacked and fumbled inside his own 10 and Philly scored on the next drive, Vikes lost by 6.

In week 3, the Vikes had 1st and goal from the 6, down by 4 with 15 seconds to go, he threw a pick.

Yesterday, he threw two more picks in the red zone, one of which was returned 99 yards for a TD. The Vikes overcame that to win 21-13 against Carolina, while he finished 12/19 for 139 yards, 2tds and 2 ints for an 80.7 rating. The kind of win Mac Jones gets and we would shit all over him for it. He's been really bad in crunch time in the playoffs and dude really, really needs to learn how to hold onto the ball. He's put it on the ground 4 times this year already, he's done it 5 times in his 4 career playoff starts.

That said, Minnesota is, IMO, a pretty good model for how to build an offense. They traded up in 2020 and grabbed JJ directly in front of the Pats (sigh), this was after they went C, TE, RB, G with their first four picks in 2019. After getting JJ, they drafted a tackle (Ezra Cleveland) in the 2nd at #58, and then still went and got Osborn in the 5th at WR. They went tackle in the 1st round in 2021, they got a starting guard in round 2 in 2022, and then even with all of this on offense, they used their 2023 first rounder on WR Jordan Addison.

That, IMO, is how the Pats should be treating their drafts, and then Bill can use his amazing ability to coach up defenses.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Cousins is putting up big numbers this year, but watching him, he looks like he's in decline, and he needs a great line to succeed at this point.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

Draft and develop the next generation and keep developing the coaching staff, too.

 

[twibnotes]

Next year’s draft is loaded with good qb prospects. Draft two of them!

I have no interest in signing a guy like cousins - expensive and no proven ability to get a team all the way to the promised land.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Last year alone he won more games when his defense gave up 24+ points than the Pats have since 2018. I think he'd be pretty good here when 20 is enough most weeks.

I don’t think a lot of non-Vikings fans realize just how horrific his defenses have been there. Cousins would look like Joe Montana with a healthy Patriots defense.

 

[BigJimEd]

Next year’s draft is loaded with good qb prospects. Draft two of them!

Is it? I'm far from an expert on college ball but from what I understand it's Williams, Maye and a bunch of question marks.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Is it? I'm far from an expert on college ball but from what I understand it's Williams, Maye and a bunch of question marks.

Michael Penix Jr. at Washington is probably a bit better than a question mark at this point.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

Michael Penix Jr. at Washington is probably a bit better than a question mark at this point.

He’s a lefty tho

 

[Marciano490]

Michael Penix Jr. at Washington is probably a bit better than a question mark at this point.

I’ve never bought a jersey, but a Penix one might be the first.

 

[JimD]

This is where the NFL is hurt by effectively outsourcing its minor leagues to the colleges. How many Brock Purdys would be discovered if teams had more opportunities to develop players after college beyond the practice squad?

 

[j44thor]

Is it? I'm far from an expert on college ball but from what I understand it's Williams, Maye and a bunch of question marks.

Those two are the cream of the crop and would have been 1-2 had they been eligible last year but after them you have toolsy Quinn Ewers of TX, Kyler Murray lite but with a much better makeup in Shadeur Sanders and older 5th & 6th yr guys in Bo Nix and Penix Jr.
Sanders has been productive playing behind arguably a worse line than Mac and very little weapons compared to the rest. He doesn't have the arm talent of Ewers but is more pro ready.
Penix has looked great but has an absurd injury history.

 

[BigJimEd]

Yeah, there's some potential there. PFF in their latest mock had the Patriots taking Nix at 8. 3rd QB off the board. Doesn't get me very excited but I'm probably putting too much emphasis on his time at Auburn and not enough on Oregon. There's talk Sanders might return to try to be QB1 in 2025.

 

[8slim]

I love Nix. I don’t know if he’s NFL-caliber, but he’s been playing out of his mind at Oregon.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

Yeah, there's some potential there. PFF in their latest mock had the Patriots taking Nix at 8. 3rd QB off the board. Doesn't get me very excited but I'm probably putting too much emphasis on his time at Auburn and not enough on Oregon. There's talk Sanders might return to try to be QB1 in 2025.

Coach Deion will thank him for his loyalty and Dad Deion will smack him upside the head because there's no point in pushing that second contract out a year.

 

[Auger34]

Cousins stinks, I honestly can't believe anyone would seriously consider signing him. He is the anti-Brady, there's never been a big game where he hasn't come up small.

Cousins is the type of guy that when you look at the box score, you wonder why everyone in the NFL isn't talking about how great he is...then you watch the game and you realize that's why no one is talking about how great he is.

 

[j44thor]

I love Nix. I don’t know if he’s NFL-caliber, but he’s been playing out of his mind at Oregon.

He is also playing on a loaded team which gives me pause. Mac Jones had the best WR core he will ever have at AL and the same may be true for Nix. It is great he is playing at a high level on a loaded team but it took him so long to get to this point I'm afraid he is really good because he is older than CJ Stround and Anthony Richardson playing with future NFL talent going up against 18-19yo future accountants. He gives me Hendon Hooker vibes which to be fair we don't know if Hooker would have been good given the injury. Nix will be 24 when he is drafted and finish his first NFL season at 25, same age as Mac today. Not sure what the track record is of older QBs coming out but I suspect it isn't great.

 

[Plantiers Wart]

Coach Deion will thank him for his loyalty and Dad Deion will smack him upside the head because there's no point in pushing that second contract out a year.

It's a tough decision for young Sanders. He puts off the second contract, sure, but to stay? Colorado will only get better next year. He has a chance to be QB1 next year and pull an Eli and pick his destination and situation. He gets to play for his dad, with his brother, and a full year with Travis Hunter. He will earn huge NIL money. His family situation is pretty elite - his father earned $60 million in football/baseball contracts, plus a few endorsement deals. A one year delay, to have a chance to kick ass in a reconstituted Big 12 - without Texas and Oklahoma - looks pretty attractive.

 

[jezza1918]

One thing I have convinced myself of is I dont want a rookie, Caleb Williams or not, starting week 1 next season. The offensive infrastructure needs a pretty major overhaul and I dont think that happens in one offseason. So if you draft a rookie and start him right away, his chances of success IMO are far less than they would be with a better infrastructure. That said, if there is a QB they like in this draft what about picking him and signing a vet for the rookie to sit behind for a season? I know Tua ended up starting a bit his rookie year but wasnt the plan to sit him? To contradict myself somewhat, in some hypothetical world where Thornton comes back and impresses, and the line gets healthy and looks good together, maybe I relent a bit on not wanting to rush a rookie qb next year...

 

[Kliq]

I'm frustrated by Mac's poor play to start the season, but I'm more frustrated by the team as a whole and especially Belichick, both as a coach and as a GM.

The team just has so many negative things going for it, especially on offense. Really inconsistent line play, partially due to injuries but also when guys have been healthy the last few weeks the problems have been the same. Way too many penalties for dumb things like delay of game. Really poor wide receiver play, letting Jakobi go and then getting nothing so far out of JuJu and Devante Parker has been a complete disaster. Inability to run the ball up has also set up Mac to fail.

The fact is, for several years now the Patriots have lacked any form of dynamism on offense and seem to lack any ability for explosive plays. It feels like every other team, even the bad teams, have a more dynamic offensive approach and can congregate more consistent TD drives than the Patriots, especially this season. Mac isn't athletic enough to be used the way a lot of QBs are used today, and he hasn't been good enough as a traditional pocket passer to make up for that. The playcalling has been extremely conservative and it seems like any penalty (and there have been a lot of them) is a drive killer. This has been the case since Brady left and I don't know how many more years we can go without getting better before some accountability has to be had.

The team as presently constructed needs a better QB than Mac. If Mac was in a Purdy-like situation, where he had a really innovative offensive playcaller, an elite WR and a great #2 option, a top three TE, the best RB in football and the best LT in football, he would obviously be a lot better. But BB doesn't seem capable of constructing a roster at the moment that is even remotely capable of being at that level, so an upgrade has to be made. That probably means a poor finish this year and getting good fortune in the draft.

 

[8slim]

He is also playing on a loaded team which gives me pause. Mac Jones had the best WR core he will ever have at AL and the same may be true for Nix. It is great he is playing at a high level on a loaded team but it took him so long to get to this point I'm afraid he is really good because he is older than CJ Stround and Anthony Richardson playing with future NFL talent going up against 18-19yo future accountants. He gives me Hendon Hooker vibes which to be fair we don't know if Hooker would have been good given the injury. Nix will be 24 when he is drafted and finish his first NFL season at 25, same age as Mac today. Not sure what the track record is of older QBs coming out but I suspect it isn't great.

That's fair. I'm the last person to be forecasting someone's NFL potential.

I will say, I think most teams need to keep drafting QBs, annually. Unless you have a Mahomes or Allen - an elite guy that is going to be your starter for years - I don't know why constantly investing draft capital in the most important position in the game isn't smart. Doesn't have to be first or second rounders, obviously. But it seems like you can often find UDFA at any other position who can make an impact, so why not skip out on that 6th round Guard from Random Big Ten University and take a QB?

 

[Strike4]

The fact is, for several years now the Patriots have lacked any form of dynamism on offense and seem to lack any ability for explosive plays. It feels like every other team, even the bad teams, have a more dynamic offensive approach and can congregate more consistent TD drives than the Patriots, especially this season.

This is the really eye-opening aspect of it for me. You watch literally any other team in the NFL and all of them just look much better on offense than the Patriots, who all look like they have cement feet and are like 1/3 slower than the opponents on defense. The fact that they have been able to hang against good teams (Cowboys excepted) is ironically a testament to the coaching staff in scheming around it (but not in almost every other aspect). I think this has been masking the depths of the issues the offense faces.

 

[ManicCompression]

Coach Deion will thank him for his loyalty and Dad Deion will smack him upside the head because there's no point in pushing that second contract out a year.

He's earning $6 million a year in NIL, and that could grow next year. If he's a late first round pick (no guarantee), that's about triple what he'd make his rookie year. Dalton Kincaid, for example, was the 25th pick last draft and his cap hit is $2.5 million. The best financial decision is probably soak up as much NIL money as possible before going pro.

 

[bakahump]

We are in a tough place. Tougher then we think.
1. We spend Draft capitol (which might be decent this year) on a QB, Let Mac play out next year and groom the New Kid. He inherits a team with a shitty line, shitty wrs, an older D (at least Dline) and an older RB. Just about that time our Good young players (mostly secondary) will be looking for expensive raises.
2. We spend Draft capitol on OL/WR this year. Basically means we are locked into Mac, or another place holder (read bad) QB for 2 years. Mac cant seem to elevate his surrounding "talent", and we are betting that the surrounding ROOKIE "talent" can elevate Mac.

We are likely not to see relevancy again for 3+ years. During that entire time Premier COACH (and questionable GM) BB will be on the hotseat. EVENTUAL divorce will be messy and sad.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

We are in a tough place. Tougher then we think.
1. We spend Draft capitol (which might be decent this year) on a QB, Let Mac play out next year and groom the New Kid. He inherits a team with a shitty line, shitty wrs, an older D (at least Dline) and an older RB. Just about that time our Good young players (mostly secondary) will be looking for expensive raises.
2. We spend Draft capitol on OL/WR this year. Basically means we are locked into Mac, or another place holder (read bad) QB for 2 years. Mac cant seem to elevate his surrounding "talent", and we are betting that the surrounding ROOKIE "talent" can elevate Mac.

We are likely not to see relevancy again for 3+ years. During that entire time Premier COACH (and questionable GM) BB will be on the hotseat. EVENTUAL divorce will be messy and sad.

I agree with your conclusion, but the Pats have the draft capital and like 90 million in cap space (2nd most in the NFL) this upcoming offseason.

I just don't trust Bill the GM to do anything with any of it on the offensive side of the ball.