Without a quarterback’s plan, the New England Patriots could be out of playoffs for a long time

It was a powerful moment of football symbolism. Just as Tua Tagovailoa moved on to effectively wrap the New England Patriots away from playoff contention, Tom Brady teamed up with Antonio Brown for a fine 46-yard score that defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ahead of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Buccaneers got their ninth win of the year, and with two games left against the Woebegone Lions and Falcons, Brady looks set to win nearly 11 games for the 11th straight season. Meanwhile, the Patriots, who have won six, will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008 – when Brady tore his ACL. This may be the first year they finish with a record they have lost since 2000.

It’s clear how the Patriots got here. Bill Belichick had no plans to replace Brady when he left in a free agency. The Patriots Cam Newton signed a one-year contract full of incentives with just over $ 1 million in base salary, and he has given them what they paid for. Newton has five touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. He threw for just 209 yards Sunday, and did not find the finish zone.

With Josh Allen in Buffalo and Tagovailoa in Miami, the Patriots could be heading for the AFC East base for a while. Assuming the New York Jets draft a quarterback at the top of the first round – Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields or Zach Wilson at BYU, depending on where they choose – they will be the only team in the division without a young passport star.

And the path to getting one is not easy. Entering Sunday, the Patriots were slated at No. 16. The top four quarterbacks in this class – Lawrence, Fields, Wilson and North Dakota State Trey Lance – appear to be off the table. before that time. They may have been able to pick Kyle Trask from Florida in the second round, but Brady ‘s true fan may have just graduated from high school through Zoom.

With the Patriots no longer on the playoff track, Belichick should play Jarrett Stidham for the next two weeks. But Belichick’s refusal to turn to Stidham, despite Newton’s great efforts, shows he lacks a lot of confidence in the 2019 quarterback. And maybe that’s for a good reason. The recent list of fourth-round picks to succeed as NFL quarterbacks is small. It begins and ends with Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins.

The answer is probably Stidham. That means the Patriots, even if they take a quarterback in the second or third round, could be looking for another recall project next offseason.

The Jimmy Garoppolo storybook setting is somehow finding his way back to Foxborough. Belichick did not want to trade Garoppolo in October 2017, according to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, and appeared to have been crushed as Brady’s heir when the Patriots took him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. “We know how old Tom is and the position of the contract,” Belichick said insultingly at the time.

But the prospect of Garoppolo ‘s availability is a testament to his time in San Francisco. While playing in the Super Bowl last season, he has suffered a serious injury in two of the last three years, and has lost a lot of time. This year, Garoppolo has played in just six games.

And when Garoppolo was on the field, he struggled, throwing just seven touchdowns and five touchdowns.

The 49ers could cut Garoppolo by June 1 and save $ 24 million instead of caps. But after ACL tears and a bad ankle sprain, he has received a blow in the Bay Area. Garoppolo would also return to the Patriots team under offensive talent. This is not the only group of skill position players with whom he played over the opening five quarters of the 2016 campaign.

The Detroit Lions could cut ties with Matthew Stafford, saving $ 62 million. But at 32 years old, he has been involved in many reconstruction projects. It is very likely that the Patriots would be an attractive option for him.

The same thing is happening for Matt Ryan, and on top of that, the Atlanta Falcons would hit nearly $ 40 million if they traded or released the one-time MVP. It is unlikely to be on the market.

Sam Darnold would be an interesting option if the Jets don’t want around to competing with their rookie star du jour. Once rated as the most talented QB in the 2018 class draft, he has a professional QB rating of 77.8. Belichick would be tasked with reviving his career, and it looks like he would have to give up a second collector to do so. Remember: the Arizona Cardinals traded Josh Rosen for the second and fifth round selections in 2019.

It’s always possible to bring Newton back, but it seems like it can’t be more of a cheap backup option. Jacoby Brissett, who will be a free agent, is perhaps the most attractive care candidate. He’s a better traveler than Newton, and obviously, familiar with the organization.

But Brissett won’t pick up on Allen, who is a bonafide MVP candidate. Tagovailoa was built at No. 5 overall, and has a decorated resume. The Jets will have a new young stud under the middle – at least on paper. The Patriots are left to scrub the discarded lump.

They may be hitting gold, but for now, it’s a hypothesis. Belichick spends his offseason finding the answer, while his competition in the division focuses on picking winners.