Patriots Still Have Interest In Another Quarterback

The New England Patriots offered veteran Cam Newton a one-year deal, but they may be interested in another veteran quarterback, too.

Newton hit his deal earlier this week, and he will stay around for a while. But, this doesn’t mean that he will be the Patriots’ top quarterback in 2021.

Jeremy Fowler from ESPN reported that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick may try to get another quarterback in the offseason. How about Jimmy Garoppolo? He is a familiar name, and the Patriots could use him really well.

Here’s what the ESPN insider said on Sunday:

“(Cam’s) a nice insurance policy. Bill Belichick likes working with him a great deal. It gives them some credibility for free agents they might want to sign but Jimmy Garoppolo is still out there. I’ve spoken to enough people around the league that said it just makes too much sense for them to at least try to re-unite.

“I’ve been told by a source that the 49ers have not been overly eager to trade Garoppolo yet, there hasn’t been much traction there yet. But maybe the Patriots can change their mind.”

Patriots to make Newton compete for the No.1 quarterback job

This report emerged right after NFL analyst Greg Bedard said Garoppolo was Belichick’s “Plan A” at quarterback in 2021.

“From what I gather from talking to people this week, over the past week, Jimmy Garoppolo still is far and away their Plan A,” Bedard said. “That, if they had to draw it up, exactly the optimal situation for the Patriots for this coming season, it’s Jimmy G coming back here. And of course, that’s all dependent on the 49ers doing something.”

Garoppolo spent four years with the Patriots. He spent the first portion of his career in New England. Many thought Garoppolo would step in as a replacement for TB12. Well, New England sent him to San Francisco and he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019. It was a wild season for Garoppolo, but the quarterback sustained too many injuries in the past few seasons. Belichick will have to think twice before offering Garoppolo a deal.

It looks like Newton will have to compete for the starting job again. His new contract with the Pats could give him up to $14 million in 2021. We will have to wait until summer to learn more about Belichick’s plans at quarterback.