After a season filled with ups and downs including a devastating wild card loss to the Titans, Tom Brady’s future with the Patriots remains a question. Tom Brady said it is “unlikely” he retires, and said that he won’t be giving New England a “Hometown Discount”. Tom Brady sounds as if he could test out free agency, and sign with another team to prove that he doesn’t neccisarily need his hall of fame coach to win football games. The patriots could look to add another quarterback to the roster if Tom Brady decides to test out life somewhere else. This list will highlight some key quarterbacks that would fit New Englands system for the 2020-21 season.

1. Cam Newton

After Cam Newton went down with an injury, Kyle Allen replaced him as the Panthers starting quarterback and did not dissapoint. Kyle Allen and Will Grier look to be the quarterbacks of the future in Carolina while Cam Newton looks to revive his career somewhere else in the league. Cam is on contract for one more year and will earn $18.6 million before he becomes a free agent in 2021. Cam could come in as an experienced veteran quarterback and keep the struggling Patriots team in the playoffs. Newton would be by no means be Tom Brady but he would be an above average starter that could do great things with Bill Belichick and maintain a playoff spot in the AFC. This would’nt be free but rather New England would have to give up some peices to acquire the 30 year old. An ideal package for the Patriots & the Panthers would include a future 1st round draft pick along with and potentially an additional late round pick.

Grant Halverson | 2018 | Bleacher Report

2. Alex Smith

Alex Smith may be getting up there in age (35) however he is a reliable veteran quarterback who hasn’t had a losing season while playing since 2010. He is a proven winner that can serve as a solid replacement to Tom Brady in this Patriots offense. He’s not someone your going to rebuild with because he only has so much left in the tank however, he’s someone that can come to New England, keep rolling with the same offense, and keep them in the playoffs for the next couple of years. The Redskins look comfortable enough with backup quarterback Case Keenum and newly named starter Dwayne haskins where it wouldn’t hurt to gain some helpful assets in exchange for the veteran quarterback. Alex Smith is someone who has a lot of playoff experience who could definetly fit the role of a pocket passer, and is someone with a lot of playoff experience that could definetly keep the expectations high in New England. The Redskins likely wouldn’t set a high asking price for the 35 year old veteran but the ideal asking price on a declining quarterback of this caliber would include multiple late round picks.

Kevin O’Connell | 2018 | The Washington post |

3. Jake Fromm

After the Patriots wild card loss to the Tennessee Titans, they currently sit with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft. Even though it’s a very underwhelming draft class in terms of quarterbacks, someone who could fit the Patriots system for the next decade is Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. Fromm was electric for the Bulldogs throughout his whole college career throwing over 24 touchdowns every year since he was a true freshman. Fromm could definetly strive in a pass heavy, Bill Belichick ran offense as a first year starter. Assuming by the 23rd selection quarterbacks such as Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, & Jacob Eason are off the board the Patriots best choice would have to be the poised pocket passer out of Georgia.

Carmen Mandato | 2019 | Getty Images |

4. Teddy Bridgewater

After Drew Brees went down with an injury in week 2, Teddy Bridgewater took over and led the team to a 5-1 record in his absence. He is highly regarded as the best backup in the league, and by now is worthy of a starting job. After reports came out saying the Saints would rather Taysom Hill as their starting quarterback of the future, Teddy has emerged as a trade candidate for multiple teams. Teddy Bridgewater is a proven reliable quarterback that steps up in situations where he is needed. An ideal trade package would likely include a 2nd round pick with an additional late round pick.

Abbie Parr | 2019 | Getty Images |

5. Marcus Mariota

The past two seasons Marcus Mariota has been nothing short of a dissapointment. From throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in 2017 to being benched for Ryan Tannehill, Mariota has been a huge let down. However Mariota has shown flashes of being a good quarterback ever since his rookie season, his only real problem is finding consistency. He is looking for a career revival which is likely not going to happen where he is located. Under Bill Belichick Mariota could bring a new look to the patriots offense. He’s still a young quarterback that could re-establish himself as a quarterback in this league. Marcus Mariota’s recent drop off in production has set his trade value very low so New England could likely grab him for nothing more than a 3rd round pick plus a potential late round pick.

Jeremy Brevard | 2019 | USA Today Sports |