8 Patriots who need to step up in Tom Brady’s absence

Without Tom Brady, a few more Patriots will take on larger roles.

Jarrett Stidham, QB

At this point, it feels like Stidham will be the starter this year. If that’s the case, he has a lot on his plate. At 23, Stidham will have to replace the greatest quarterback of all-time. Fans and the media shouldn’t be expecting a performance that’s Brady-like. However, Stidham has the chance to ease the change and prove a lot of people wrong.

Coming out of college, Stidham had doubters. He struggled his final year at Auburn which meant pundits were lower on him. Then he came in and lit it up in the preseason. Some saw flashes of talent while others pointed out that his performance was against second and third-string players And, the last time Stidham got extended game action, he threw a pick-six against the Jets.

Now, the kid from Stephenville, Texas has a chance to be a starter in this league. He needs to study, watch film, and work with his teammates as much as possible to be prepared for this golden opportunity.