NFL Analyst Predicts Patriots Starting Quarterback For 2021 Season

The New England Patriots will have to solve the quarterback situation this offseason. Head coach Bill Belichick has a few plans in his pocket. The Patriots have been linked to several players, and one of them can step in as a starting quarterback in 2021.

The Patriots can make several moves in the next couple of months. Maybe they will land their next quarterback with the No. 15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Belichick can easily jump into the free-agent quarterback market and get a big name. What about veteran quarterback Cam Newton? He didn’t have much success in 2020, but Belichick likes him. If given enough weapons, Newton can do wonders for the Patriots.

Patriots to get talented starting quarterback in 2021

NFL analyst Field Yates made a prediction on the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the 2021 NFL season. He has one particular name for Belichick’s roster.

Marcus Mariota.

“The Patriots are among a group of teams that are too far from the top of the draft order to be a likely landing spot for the top-draft-prospect quarterbacks, meaning we’re examining other veteran options who could be logical fits,” Yates wrote for ESPN.com. “While a Cam Newton return isn’t totally ruled out, it’s an unlikely option. The 27-year-old Mariota is under contract for one more year with the Raiders but carries a cap charge of $10.725M, an unlikely tab for them to pay for a backup in a cap-tightened year.

“Be it via a trade or cut, Mariota could find a new home this offseason … and the Patriots are a logical fit.”

Mariota was great in his lone game action. He stepped in as a replacement for Derek Carr and completed 17 of 28 pass attempts for 226 yards and a touchdown in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

If the Patriots get Mariota, they will receive great energy. Mariota offers dual-threat abilities, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have a lot to work with. Mariota has started eight games in the past couple of seasons, so he is probably fresher than typical starting quarterbacks.