Options include free agents, the draft, a trade and two players already under contract.
The "Brady 2020 Watch" is full of smoke and mirrors. Until we find out where this future Hall-of-Fame quarterback is playing next season, however, it won’t end. Until then, the only thing observers can do is speculate.
In the event Brady leaves via free agency, where do the Patriots go from there? For the quarterback position, the Pats have four obvious options — free agency, the trade market, the draft and the QBs who are under contract.
Considering the Pats pick at 23 next month, here is a look at the veteran options around the NFL.
In-house candidates: Jarrett Stidham, Cody Kessler
Stidham was good last summer – really good. The 2019 fourth-rounder had the type of training camp that made many observers think of Jimmy Garoppolo. In fact, you can argue that Stidham was better — as a rookie — than Garoppolo was in 2014.
In four preseason games, Stidham completed 61 of 90 passes (67.8%) for 731 yards with four touchdowns, an interception and a 102.6 passer rating. In 2014, Garoppolo was 46-of-79 (58.2%) for 618 yards with five touchdowns, an interception and a 99.0 passer rating.
Is Stidham the next guy? Perhaps. For one, he’s cheap ($775,269) and that would clear enough cap space for the Patriots to make a run at a big free agent (Amari Cooper, anyone?). Last year in practice, Stidham had several deep throws that wowed his teammates. Of course, throwing deep is only one aspect of the position.
With Kessler, the Pats have an experienced quarterback who has started 12 career games. As a rookie in 2016, Kessler started eight games for the Cleveland Browns. He threw for 1,380 yards to go with six touchdowns and two picks. We were told the Pats really liked him last year, which is why they kept three quarterbacks on the roster.
Free agents: Marcus Mariota, Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill
If the Patriots are going to dip into free agency, it would be a surprise if they broke the bank for any of the would-be available quarterbacks — discounting Drew Brees and Dak Prescott.
Mariota is an interesting option. He never quite lived up to his potential in Tennessee but he’s only 26. His athleticism is off the charts, but can he play quarterback at a high level? The jury is still out, which is why Mariota is likely to sign a one-year, prove-it deal. The Pats could bring him in to compete with Stidham.
Bridgewater went 5-0 as a starter last year with New Orleans. He was fine — 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He looked more like a game manager than a superstar but the Saints won with him. He’d make an interesting short-term solution for a team like the Patriots.
If Brady goes to Tennessee, it would free up Tannehill. Is anyone buying his performance last season? He completed 70.3% of his passes to go with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Patriots saw him too many times in the AFC East to fall for that or hand Tannehill a big contract.
Trade market: Derek Carr, Andy Dalton
This market also could hinge on Brady. If he goes to Las Vegas, the Raiders would look to move Carr. He’s a solid athlete and has been an OK quarterback. Last year, Carr completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 28-year-old once looked like a future MVP but never hit that ceiling. He has three years left on his deal, which pays him less than $20 million per season through 2022.
A team could do a lot worse than Carr.
Speaking of worse, there have been a few Dalton-to-Patriots rumors this offseason. Cincinnati is likely to draft Joe Burrow No. 1 overall in April. They would then (or before that) trade the 32-year-old quarterback. He’ll make $17.5 million next season. That salary isn’t guaranteed, so, hypothetically, the Patriots could trade for Dalton and have him compete with Stidham for the job.
Dalton is a three-time Pro Bowler but was pretty bad last year with a 59.5 completion percentage to go with 3,494 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Want a wildcard name?
Jimmy Garoppolo.
If Brady convinces the San Francisco 49ers to sign him, that could free up the Patriots’ 2014 second-rounder.
That might be a long shot, but at this point, all anyone can do is speculate.