Patriots Beat mailbag: Who should be the starting quarterback?

The New England Patriots are off and on their bye week after falling to 2-8 in Germany. I won’t waste your time. Let’s get straight to it.

Who would you want to replace Belichick if he’s not there next year? Jerod Mayo? Ben Johnson? – @The_Ecyclopedia

Bill Belichick’s future is possibly the biggest storyline in the NFL. It’s a complicated question because how do you move on from a coach who built your franchise? There are plenty of numbers showcasing how Belichick performs without Brady, but how do the Patriots look without Belichick? All of the Patriots Super Bowl titles have come under Belichick, and the Patriots have 31 postseason victories at the helm of Belichick. So, how can you move on? Does Kraft even have a right to fire him? Also complicating things is Belichick’s path to pass Don Shaula in all-time wins. He’s currently 16 wins away, but if he stays with the Patriots, it could be at least two seasons until he reaches that mark. 

Let’s take the hypotheticals away and pretend Robert Kraft pulls the trigger and fires Bill Belichick. Who takes over?

My guess is Jerod Mayo. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero stated league circles believe it’s just a matter of time before Mayo becomes a head coach. Last year at the league meetings, Robert Kraft hinted at Mayo’s future in the Patriots organization.

“There’s no ceiling on his ability to be a head coach, and he’ll be a head coach. I’m sure of that. I hope he’s with us.”

Along with Jerod Mayo, Ben Johnson (like you said) and Mike Vrabel are at the top of my list. However, my problem with Vrabel is that he’s still old school. Some would say he has a similar coaching style to Belichick. Still, there’s no arguing: Vrabel has deep roots in Foxborough and could be a good option. 

I’m most intrigued by Ben Johnson. It’s still unknown if Johnson would want to leave Detroit, but if he does, I would want him at the top of the Patriots list. Last year, he interviewed with the Texans and the Colts before deciding to return to the Lions. 

If I had to bet on it: Jerod Mayo. Who would I want? Ben Johnson.

Genuine question… where do we go from here? – @BaderThfc

Good question. It’s been a disappointing season for all parties in New England. For so long, the Patriots have been able to beat up the bad teams and manage not to get blown out. This season, they suffered their biggest blowout of the Belichick era against the Cowboys and their biggest home defeat in over a decade against the Saints. On top of that, the Patriots lost to the Commanders, Colts, and Raiders. 

It’s time to evaluate as a fan where the Patriots stand in the NFL. It is true that statistically they’re not the worst team, but it’s pretty darn close. It’s also fair to point out their injuries this year. Between Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Matt Judon, Kendrick Bourne, Cole Strange, and Josh Uche – the injury bug made its way around the Patriots’ locker room and has not doubt impacted performance. 

The plan to become contenders starts in the offseason. This free agency and draft process should all revolve around the offensive side of the ball. Of course, you need to figure out your quarterback situation with or without Mac Jones. But if you draft a quarterback and still don’t get him any weapons, the Patriots are in the same situation. Mike Evans, Michael Pittman, and Tyler Boyd are just a few free-agent receivers I’d keep my eye on.

You also have to determine your coaching situation. It will be a hectic offseason for Robert Kraft and the Patriots to figure out what they’re going to do and where the franchise goes from here.

Who should the Patriots draft at the QB Position? – @nesportreview

First of all, that’s a big if, but it would have to be in the first round if the Patriots decide to draft a quarterback in the 2024 draft. I think Mac Jones gives the Patriots a better chance to win than any quarterback who will be available after the first round. Jones has proven he can be a NFL winning quarterback with other pieces around him. So, it would be between Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and maybe Jayden Daniels. Daniels is the only quarterback that’s not projected to go in the first round that I would consider. The LSU product has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and he adds value as a dual-threat quarterback. Daniels has the ability to run and pass the football at a high level, recording eight total touchdowns against Georgia State this weekend.

If the Patriots have a chance at either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, I would lean toward Drake Maye. However, unless any drastic changes happen, Caleb Wiliams will be the first overall pick in the draft. So, realistically, the Patriots have a better shot at Drake Maye. The UNC quarterback continues to show off his arm and talent skills, and he could fit the Patriot’s scheme perfectly. 

Who’s the starting QB next week? – @Kathbolts

It should be Mac. If the Patriots wanted to significantly change their football team, it would have been known. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported the team has not made a decision yet regarding their quarterback position going into the bye week.

However, when the Patriots practiced after getting home from Germany, Mac Jones took all the first-team reps. So, the starter should remain Mac Jones. The Patriots unfortunately don’t have great backup options. Bailey Zappe hasn’t provided tape that shows he should take over as the starter. Maybe Grier gets a shot against the Giants, but it’s too early to tell. There was significant news that the locker room had lost faith in Mac Jones, with sources telling Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald that “80%” of the locker room is out on Jones.

After the Patriots released Malik Cunningham and added him to the practice squad, his gameday elevations returned to zero. It will be telling if the Patriots decide to promote Cunningham against the Giants.

Who’s going to be fired/cut/benched before they play the Giants? – @LordSavageODark

As I said above, if any drastic roster moves were going to happen, it would have been a day after the Colts game. Robert Kraft never had the intention of firing Belichick mid-season. However, we have already seen a veteran player get cut. Sophomore defensive back Jack Jones was released earlier in the week and claimed by the Las Vegas Raiders. The move came as a surprise, but Jones’s performance off the field sparked some issues around the Patriots locker room. Looking at some other veterans, Trent Brown could take some extended time off. I don’t want to speculate on players’ personnel situations, but Brown has been on the depth chart for several weeks, listed with an ankle/personnel issue. Conor McDermott will probably see a roster elevation at some point during the bye week, which is something to keep an eye on. 

Assuming the Pats don’t finish with a top 2 pick & can’t draft Williams or Maye, what do the Patriots do at QB next season? Are any of the next tier QBs that could start right away? Do you give $50 million AAV to cousins coming off an injury? Is Jimmy G or another fringe starter an option? Keep Mac & develop Day2 QB? – @pats300levelpod

It’s a very likely scenario that the Patriots don’t finish with a top 3 pick with relatively easy opponents on the horizon. If the mock drafts are right, Williams and Maye will be selected within the first three picks, meaning the Patriots could miss out on the top two quarterbacks. As I mentioned above, most of the “next tier” quarterbacks aren’t day-1 starters. Unless the Patriots can get significant offensive support, I don’t see them drafting a quarterback outside Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

So that means, if you miss out on a quarterback, I would presume the Patriots select receiver Marvin Harrison or one of the top tackles. Then you have to decide on Mac Jones’s future and what that does for free agency. Kirk Cousins is a unique thought since he’s a capable veteran quarterback, but his age is definitely a concern. Dak Prescott could be another option. I don’t see Jimmy Garpollo making a return to Foxborough, especially if Josh McDaniels returns in some capacity.