As much as it pains myself and so many others to say, Tom Brady won’t play forever. I can absolutely see him outlasting Bill Belichick, but there’s an end of the road for all of us. We all thought that the Patriots were set for the future when Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett were backing up the forty-year-old wonder, but that, of course, all changed within a month last fall. It was a wild move by Bill Belichick to kick the future of the team to the curb as quickly as and the way he did; I’m 100 percent positive that there is much, much more to that story than we know or even think, but that’s another story for another day.
Now that most of us have come to terms with the fact that Belichick trading a quarterback like Garoppolo for pocket lint and a gum wrapper was a bad idea, considering the market that was blatantly out there for him. It’s time to move on and start thinking about life after Brady, once again.
As of right now, New England has two first-round picks and two second-round picks: 23rd, 31st, 43rd and 63rd. They also have a lot of needs that need to be filled, such as LB, WR, OT, DT, CB and edge rush. Many will complain that the team needs to focus on those needs first and foremost before they start thinking about a quarterback. I say screw that. If a QB drops to the Patriots that Belichick likes or he comes up with a reasonable package to move up into say the top 10 to snag one of the top-tier quarterbacks left, I say go for it. They will fill their current needs eventually and already are in the process of that; if a quarterback comes up that they really like, they should go for it without second thought. You never know when Brady may be done whether it’s his choice or not.
One of the few things that we do know about this situation is that the team has the assets to do whatever the hell they feel they should. Everything, at the end of the day, depends on how the other 31 dominos fall, of course. If we know anything, it’s that the Patriots are always bouncing around in the draft and making trades just before the draft or in the process of the draft. Nothing is predictable when it comes to this tea and we’ve known this for about 18 years now.
Hypothetically speaking, I can absolutely see them trading up, again, to get somewhere in the top 10. I doubt they get into top three territory; that would surprise me. I wouldn’t put it beyond them to go for it and deal those three high picks they own and snag one of the top QBs on the board. Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if they stayed put and let whomever fall right into their lap. Some of the best and most logical fits, to me, would probably include Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph and Luke Falk. All three are most notably extremely mobile, which is directly up Belichick and McDaniels’ alley. IE: Tebow, Garoppolo, Brissett and the supposed Johnny Manziel buzz.
Baker Mayfield is my dark horse; words cannot express how quickly I would spontaneously combust if New England traded up to get him. They would obviously have to move some pieces if they wanted to grab him, but if given the opportunity, I pray to the good Lord above that they pull the trigger. If Mayfield is going to succeed anywhere, it would be in Foxboro. And it would be beautiful.
Back to the subject. If and when the Patriots do draft their (hopefully) quarterback of the future, they should do with him exactly what they did with Garoppolo, minus trading him: develop him for as long as possible over Brady’s shoulder and in the system thus setting him up for as much success as possible, play to his strengths and ensure his potential has the potential (sorry) to be reached. That is, of course, exactly what they did with Garoppolo, and look at how he ended up. Belichick’s time is seemingly limited here in New England, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will set this team up for long-term success before he leaves, starting with the quarterback position. He refuses to end up like Bill Parcells and leave with the worst possible legacy.
Belichick trading Cooks away for what he received just about shows that he’s more than ready to unload, for lack of a better term, for Brady’s successor. By making as many moves and trades as they have so far throughout this short offseason is most likely foreshadowing what the team will do come draft time.
Remember, though, if they do draft a quarterback high, they’re replacing Garoppolo, not Brady.
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