The New England Patriots' Unsteady Situation Under Center

As a sports fan, it brings me great joy to type these words: The New England Patriots have complete uncertainty in their quarterback situation next year. With Tom Brady taking his talents south to Tampa Bay, Bill Belichick doesn't have a franchise QB representing the Pats next year. For the first time since Drew Bledsoe shattered a blood vessel in his chest, Bostonians will not have a familiar face lining up under center. However, don't write them in for a losing record. With reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore back at corner, the Pats could make the playoffs with a decent player dropping back at Gillette Stadium. We go over the possibilities for how America's least favorite team can adequately replace TB12 to be must-see TV come January.

One option is to stick with their current roster. QB isn't everything, and New England has been developing young running backs for years like Sony Michel and James White for years for a situation like this. Could we see Josh McDaniels roll out a run-first scheme in the fall? Plus, they had an elite defense last year, and despite losing a few starters, their D will still be playoff quality next year. Their current roster contains two quarterbacks, Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. Hoyer is a career backup currently in his third stint with the Patriots. If he starts, don't expect Bill Belichick's playoff streak to live another year. The other prospect on the team is second year player Jarrett Stidham, a high school star under the Friday Night Lights of Texas. He also had a great season at Auburn, defeating national powers Georgia and Alabama. He has the experience under bright lights to play for one of the most famous teams in football, but it's unclear whether an unproven sophomore fourth-round pick can succeed in the NFL and satisfy the expectations of The Hoodie.

Another option is making acquisitions in free agency or via trade. On the open market lie Cam Newton, James Winston, and Taysom Hill. Newton is only 30 and 5 years removed from an MVP season. Should he avoid injuries, the sky's the limit for the former Panther. However, Newton's health is a big if, as he hasn't been able to hit his stride since his MVP campaign. It would be ironic if Tampa and New England did a quarterback swap, with the Patriots possibly signing James Winston. Winston can score boatloads, but his interceptions give him a low floor. The Hoodie can work miracles, so it's plausible he whips the former Florida State star into a smart football player, but should Winston continue giving the football away like candy, it could make for a miserable season in Foxborough. Taysom Hill is the most promising of the three, showing a lot of skill in his sporadic snaps in New Orleans. He can throw, catch, and run. With the minds of Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, Hill could be utilized for anything and everything. The only problem is his first round tender, meaning New England would have to forfeit a first round pick to grab the gadget QB. Andy Dalton also brings interest in the trade market. The Bengals will undoubtedly be willing to give him away for next to nothing because they plan to take LSU star Joe Burrow with the #1 pick. Dalton isn't the coolest choice, but he could serve as a one year stopgap while Robert Kraft searches for his quarterback of the future.

The final option for the Patriots' search is the loaded class in the NFL draft. While Burrow will surely be selected first, many more QBs remain. Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love are all top-20 level talents with through the roof potential should the Patriots try to move up. Later in the draft, Jalen Hurts, Jake Fromm, and Jacob Eason await New England. As ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out that Fromm, a Georgia product, likes throwing over the middle, as does Belichick prefer in his schemes. Whatever the Pats decide, a staggering amount of talent is right in front of them.

The Patriots may not be the juggernaut they've been for a lot of the 21st century, helmed by Tom Brady, but they do have options to move forward at the most important position on a football field. They could strike gold with Stidham as they did with Brady. They might strike out acquiring a veteran. Perhaps they'll boom or bust in the draft. Nevertheless, one thing will stay the same. As much as it pains me to write, the Patriots will be in the conversation every autumn until The Hoodie's retirement because whatever happens, they'll have the best mind in football leading them into battle.