The Patriots need for a starting quarterback is a given. It falls into the high priority category on the team’s offseason to-do-list.
A few notches below that on the importance meter is how they go about staffing the rest of the quarterback room. What’s the makeup of that unit?
Do they keep Mac Jones? Bailey Zappe? Or piece together an entirely new unit?
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Whether they do, or don’t, if they draft a quarterback, which is the expectation, it behooves them to have an experienced, veteran quarterback in that stable to help guide him along. And, to capably step in until the rookie is ready to go.
This past season, the presence of a veteran, a sounding board for Jones and Zappe, was sorely missing. Wouldn’t it have helped having a competent veteran to relieve Jones when he was struggling?
Instead, the Patriots stuck with Jones, who was benched four times, before finally turning to Zappe, who reportedly wasn’t showing much in practice. That’s why it took so long to make the switch.
Beyond having that veteran backup who could take over in a pinch, and keep the team afloat, there’s a big brother element to it.
Brian Hoyer had been that guy. He was especially helpful to Jones during his rookie year.
But with the Patriots letting him go during the offseason last year, they never replaced what he brought to the table.
Jones and Zappe weren’t afforded an experienced quarterback to bounce things off, or in Jones’ case, help him deal with everything that went wrong. Having a veteran signal-caller a bit under-the-radar, but a need nonetheless.
Should the Patriots land a quarterback with the No. 3 pick, it’s an absolute must.
Let’s consider the Houston Texans.
They drafted C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick. They already had Davis Mills, who they took in the second round of the 2021 draft.
And, they added veteran Case Keenum, who was technically the third string quarterback.
During the year, Texans GM. Nick Caserio reportedly fielded calls on Keenum from teams with injury issues at quarterback, knowing the veteran was proven backup. Caserio, however, didn’t bite for what would have amounted to a Day 3 pick in return. He didn’t want to unload Keenum. He knew how important the veteran was for Stroud.
During the year, Keenum also stepped in when Stroud was hurt, and kept the ball rolling for the playoff-bound Texans.
Stroud, a cinch for rookie of the year, called it “a blessing” having Keenum around.
“It’s something I definitely knew I needed, just that guidance and confidence,” Stroud told reporters during training camp last year.
It helps if the quarterback room is a safe haven, a nurturing environment. In the Patriots case last season, there appeared to be a chill in the room, with Jones and Zappe reportedly not best buddies.
Keenum, meanwhile, understood the dynamic when he signed with the Texans during the offseason. He put it into perspective for SI.com recently.
“First of all, Rule No. 1 is being ready to go,” Keenum said. “But my relationship with C.J., Davis, the quarterback room, I think a healthy quarterback room is a good one. And that tends to make everybody’s life better, when the quarterback room is on the same page on a lot of things—how they see the defense, how they pick up pressures, how you see different plays, attacking those defenses, and then even hanging out.
“We have a pretty good rapport with the quarterbacks. We do weekly quarterback dinners and get together quite a bit. It’s been a good year. And I really do enjoy working with C.J. He’s a great, really mature young man. And I’ve enjoyed getting to know him and watching him play this year. I think he’s a generational talent and … he is special. He’s really good.”
The hope would be for the Patriots to land another generational talent with the No. 3 pick. Then it’s important for them to do everything in their power to allow the rookie quarterback to succeed.
Bring in game-changing receivers. Shore up the offensive line. And, provide a veteran who can act as a stabilizing force.
Jacoby Brissett is a free agent. He fits the profile. And if the Patriots land a mobile quarterback in the draft, Tyrod Taylor would be another.
Mayo’s to-do-list is certainly jam-packed. But once the smoke clears, and a new offensive coordinator is on board, they have to seriously think about making sure the new kid quarterback has a mentor in the room.
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