Report: Former No. 2 Pick Could Be Patriots ‘Most Realistic Option’ at Quarterback

The New England Patriots could get some of the great players in the offseason. However, some of these players signed with different teams. According to recent reports, a former No.2 pick may be the next Patriots quarterback.

Matthew Stafford is out of the game, and New England likes Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Reiss from ESPN would rather go with Las Vegas Raiders free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Reiss mentioned the Ryan Tannehill effect. Tannehill had to go after failing to build chemistry with the Miami Dolphins. The Tennessee Titans offered him a deal, and his performance turned out really well.

The former No.2 pick to join the Patriots as their next quarterback

He plays like one of the best quarterbacks in league history. If Reiss is right, the Patriots will see similar performance from Mariota.

“Could Las Vegas QB Marcus Mariota be the most realistic option many are overlooking? Similar to how Ryan Tannehill found success in Tennessee, Mariota could do the same in New England,” Reiss wrote. “The Raiders are projected to be over the salary cap, and keeping Mariota as a backup to Derek Carr, with an $11.3 million salary-cap charge, might be a luxury they can’t afford. The Raiders announced last week that No. 3 quarterback Nathan Peterman signed a one-year extension.”

If the Raiders try to get Deshaun Watson, they will have to cut Carr. The team will have Peterman and an undrafted rookie in 2021. We have a good reason to believe that the Raiders will move on with Carr, Peterman and a third quarterback. This offers the Patriots a chance to get Mariota.

“From this perspective, a case could be made for Mariota as the strongest possibility, based on potential availability, modest cost, and upside. He has played under four coaches and five coordinators in six NFL seasons. Maybe the stability of the Belichick/Josh McDaniels pairing is a nice match for him.”

The 27-year-old was a No.2 overall pick. Mariota did a good job in his first two years in the NFL. In his rookie campaign, he threw for 2,818 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 12 games. In 2-016, he threw for 3,416 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions in 15 games. Mariota did see a decline in 2017.