NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Patriots 2024 roster reset: QB overhaul remains the top priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Editor’s Note: With the beginning of NFL free agency looming on March 13, our Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran is resetting each Patriots position by assessing their 2023 performance, laying out their 2024 contract status and ranking their offseason priority on a scale of 1 to 5.
First up is the most position in football: quarterback.
Eight. Eight different quarterbacks cycled on and off the Patriots’ roster in 2023. And out of those eight – Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham, Trace McSorley, Matt Corral, Will Grier, Ian Book and Nathan Rourke – none of them will be the Patriots’ opening day starter in 2024.
Regardless of where the blame for the lack of offensive competency lies, the embarrassing performance at that position is the root reason the greatest coach in NFL history is currently out of work.
The Patriots could bring Jones back for the final season of his rookie contract. They could look at Zappe as their No. 2 or even as a placeholder starter until whoever they draft is ready. But the most likely and reasonable course of action is to first bring in a veteran who can start in September, run the offense and give the Patriots a chance to get past 20 points, something they did just four times in 2023.
Aside from who they’ll bring in, the biggest questions are whether to cut ties with Jones and how they view Zappe.
🔊 Patriots Talk: The “FIND THE GUY” vs. “BUILD THE TEAM” argument | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Jones can play, but the atmosphere is toxic and everyone may be better served if he’s traded during or after the draft. Zappe had some flashes in relief of Jones and he doesn’t lack in self-belief. But his limitations have been shown. He’s a backup/depth quarterback at this point. How well does he accept that role if the Patriots bring in two people above him?
That’s a consideration for head coach Jerod Mayo, offensive…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-2024-roster-reset-qb-232904790.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-02-17 23:29:04
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
