Patriots’ QB positional preview: Cam Newton is definitely the starter … right?

Bill Belichick has to figure out how to replace the GOAT.

Jarrett Stidham

In the event Newton’s body looks run down, Stidham will be the next man to get a crack at the job. Though we haven’t seen much from him except a solid preseason performance in 2019, it’s easy to imagine Stidham isn’t ready to win the job. The most obvious indicator is that the Patriots signed Newton. But it would also make sense that a fourth round pick would need more than one year to acclimate to the NFL. Most fourth-round quarterbacks never pan out. But a player like Stidham, who had high upside with a low floor, seemed like a particularly tricky project player. The Patriots may need another year to get him ready — if he’ll ever be ready.