There are a bunch of different directions the New England Patriots can go in at the quarterback position, and the good news is they should have plenty of options to make any path work.
They could draft a new quarterback entirely and rebuild the offense from the ground up in 2024, or they could lean on a veteran acquired through free agency as a bridge option, while tinkering with other areas on the roster.
There’s no way to know for sure if Bill Belichick or some other general manager will be making the personnel decisions. It’s also important to keep in mind that the Patriots need serious improvements at the skilled positions and along the offensive front.
So simply getting a better signal-caller isn’t going to suddenly fix all of their problems. But quarterback is still the most important position on the field, and a decision will have to be made.
Here are 10 quarterbacks that could be under center for the Patriots in the 2024 season:
Drake Maye
Drake Maye has the size, arm talent and athleticism to be everything the Patriots ever wanted at the quarterback position. If the team ends up with one of the top-two picks of the 2024 NFL draft, there’s a good chance they could take the signal-caller out of North Carolina.
For Maye, there have been many comparisons to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. ESPN’s David Pollack even went as far as calling him “Justin Herbert 2.0.”
Bold call by @davidpollack47 on @CollegeGameDay today. He said UNC's Drake Maye is the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. He called him "Justin Herbert 2.0."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 5, 2022
That’s high praise for a quarterback that has yet to take an NFL snap, but many feel like Maye is deserving of it.
Caleb Williams
If not Drake Maye, then the hope is that the Patriots can at least come away with Caleb Williams. Both quarterbacks have pretty much been interchangeable in mock drafts as the first signal-caller to come off the board in 2024.
Williams regressed a bit this season, which has led to some concerns that he might not live up to the hype at the next level. But when you put on the tape and see the throws, it’s nearly impossible not to love the talent. Some of the throws Williams makes are Patrick Mahomes-like.
No, I’m not attempting to compare the two with a statement like that. It’s more of a line to drive home the fact that the NFL potential for the USC quarterback is off the charts.
Mac Jones
There’s a general consensus that the Patriots have already turned the page on Mac Jones, but there’s a real possibility that the team gives him another shot next season, especially if they decide to move on from Bill Belichick.
Instead of drafting Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, the Patriots could go after Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as a focused effort to rebuild the skilled positions. Jones still has a year left on his contract before the team has to make a decision on his fifth-year option, and he could serve as a bridge option for another quarterback.
The team might also want one last look at him with a different coach and better offensive weapons around him.
Bailey Zappe
The Patriots could theoretically move on from Mac Jones and keep Bailey Zappe in the mix. That could be a realistic option depending on how these final four weeks of football play out.
If Zappe has a strong showing, the team might opt to prioritize the skilled positions and offensive line in the draft instead of reaching for a new quarterback. They could keep Zappe under center and sign a veteran to serve as his primary backup.
That would likely mean Jones being shipped off to another team in a trade, if he isn’t flat-out released.
Jayden Daniels
Some might make an argument that both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are overhyped in comparison to 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.
The LSU quarterback was sensational despite a clear lack of talent around him, while also playing in the toughest division in college football. He finished his collegiate career throwing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while also rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Daniels was basically the whole offense for the Tigers in 2023, and he could end up being the steal of the draft depending on where he falls on the board.
Michael Penix Jr.
Michael Penix Jr. could be an option later down the draft board for the Patriots, if they somehow win too many games and find themselves out of the top quarterback sweepstakes.
He has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns in back-to-back seasons at Washington. No moment ever seems too big for Penix, who has a tendency of coming up big in nail-biters.
His ability to consistently overcome adversity, along with his already sensational processing speed and execution of an offense, could do wonders for the Patriots.
J.J. McCarthy
Things get a bit more uncertain with J.J. McCarthy, but he’s still a high-end prospect that has shown the arm talent to compete at the next level. Granted, he comes from a program that loves to run the football, and he hasn’t necessarily had an opportunity to fully showcase his talents.
McCarthy isn’t afraid to be what the offense needs him to be, and he could excel for a Patriots team that has leaned heavier on the run since Tom Brady left. Speaking of Brady, he would probably love the idea of the Patriots drafting a fellow Michigan quarterback.
Kirk Cousins
The Patriots also have the choice of going the veteran quarterback route next season. No, Kirk Cousins isn’t elite, and his ceiling is already capped. But at the same time, there’s been enough on tape to know exactly what he is at quarterback.
At this point in his career, he can manage an offense and keep the team afloat. He isn’t going to be the reason the team wins games, but he also won’t necessarily be the reason why they lose them, either.
Cousins is just okay at quarterback. Considering what the Patriots have been through this season, okay might be good enough, while the team works to rebuild the offensive skilled positions.
Ryan Tannehill
This move wouldn’t excite Patriots fans, but it might be necessary in a complete offensive rebuild.
The Patriots could go after a veteran signal-caller like Ryan Tannehill, who should be on the outs with the Tennessee Titans moving forward with Will Levis as their starter.
Tannehill could serve as a bridge option at quarterback, while the team works to make significant upgrades at receiver and the offensive line. Then they could focus on getting their guy in 2025 and beyond. This would be the less desirable and more risky option considering they could be passing up on a potential franchise quarterback in 2024.
Bo Nix
Bo Nix took flight after leaving Auburn and jumping head-first into Oregon’s high-powered offense. Some would make the argument that he’s merely a product of the system in Oregon and a weaker conference.
But there’s also no denying the significant strides and growth he’s shown on the field. He was more patient in the pocket, and he learned to utilize his weapon above the shoulder pads more than his legs.
But he’s a beefy, bruiser with the ball in his hands, whenever he takes off to run. He isn’t an easy quarterback to bring down.
The question is whether he can excel with a start-up team. For a team like the Atlanta Falcons, it could be an interesting addition, but for the Patriots, there’s reason to fear it blowing up in their face.
