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Matthew Stafford is not a Patriot. He didn’t want to be and Bill Belichick didn’t offer close to what the Lions fetched from the Rams.
The entire thing may be discouraging for Patriots followers. The offense stunk this previous season — New England’s first with no good quarterback in endlessly — and we’re all in a rush to know Invoice Belichick’s plan at quarterback. Listening to somebody he tried for wasn’t cannot really feel good.
I take extra of an optimistic learn on this. Initially, Stafford’s rejection is not an insult. Actually good quarterbacks should not wish to come right here. Damien Harris is the one actually good weapon on the roster, so why would Stafford (or another upper-echelon QB) need the Patriots?
However it’s the provide that has me inspired: a second-round pick and a player, per Albert Breer. That was pennies in comparison with two first-round picks, a 3rd and Jared Goff, however that was realistically what the Patriots may afford to offer for a 32-year-old excellent quarterback.
That being New England’s provide for Stafford is an indication Belichick plans to make use of this offseason to do greater than get a quarterback, and actually, I might quite him construct a staff that is a quarterback away than give all the pieces for one and have an offense resembling the 2019 model.
If I am Belichick and I do know that Matthew Stafford simply went for an absolute haul, I am utilizing this offseason to prioritize offensive weapons. Get one thing at quarterback, however make a roster that at worst is a quarterback away.
What’s “one thing?” Ideally it will have been Stafford — a starter for the following few years whilst you search for the long run man — however the worth was means too excessive. So possibly it is a man you may get for a mid-round decide — Jimmy Garoppolo, Teddy Bridgewater, Gardner Minshew — or an inexpensive free agent like Ryan Fitzpatrick.
None of these names are notably thrilling, and it is unlikely (besides maybe in Garoppolo’s case) that they might be long-term fixtures. What they’re, although, are enhancements over Cam Newton that would not value a lot. The Patriots may use the financial savings from not throwing premium capital on the place to make a roster that may be actually good as soon as the long-term answer underneath middle is discovered.
Free company and the commerce market have loads of choices to enhance the passing recreation. It is onerous to think about Chris Godwin or Allen Robinson coming to New England, and even Kenny Golladay on condition that he was seemingly joyful to see Matt Patricia fired in Detroit.
There are alternatives past them, although. Will Fuller, Corey Davis and JuJu Smith-Schuster are free brokers. Do the Browns commerce Odell Beckham Jr.? Coming off a misplaced season, I might completely purchase low on condition that his contract (three years left at roughly $15 million per) is lower than what a few of these guys will get in free company.
At tight finish, Hunter Henry is up. He is 26 and is coming off a franchise tag. The Patriots may make a run at him, but it surely makes an excessive amount of sense for him to return to the Chargers. The draft is likely to be the Patriots’ greatest wager at getting a decent finish.
As such, it is good that New England did not commerce the fifteenth decide for Stafford, they usually should not apply it to Mac Jones except they suppose he is a stud. Assuming Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson or Justin Fields do not fall, the Patriots can use that decide on Florida tight finish Kyle Pitts or whichever of the draft’s high receivers begins to fall.
The entire Stafford factor ought to present perspective for the Patriots. It is a staff that wants way more than a quarterback. Belichick not going for broke to get one reveals an understanding there.
Hopefully, his strikes this offseason will additional mirror that.
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