Dark horses
20. Alex Smith, Redskins: (Trade) Washington has clearly moved on from Smith, with the team drafting quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round in 2019. What’s more, it’s possible the Redskins draft another quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2020 draft. That would make Smith an easy trade target, and Washington may be eager to get him off the cap — so eager that it’d probably give a team a draft pick along with Smith to help a team stomach what might be a salary dump. He’s definitely the type of game-manager Belichick and McDaniels seem to respect, and he’d make $16 million in 2020.
19. Jordan Love, Utah State: (Draft) Love has tantalizing arm talent, but he just doesn’t strike me as the Patriots’ type. His accuracy issues are clear. His ability to read the field is also clear. Maybe the Patriots will be willing to take on a project, if the upside is pronounced.
18. Justin Herbert, Oregon: (Draft) The Patriots aren’t likely to trade into the top 12 picks for Herbert, who seems unlikely to fall past No. 12, where the Las Vegas Raiders pick. In the event he somehow slips in the draft, perhaps the Patriots would consider waiting for him to fall to 23rd overall. Or, if he’s available in the high teens of the draft, maybe New England would jump up and grab him. He has the upside to be a day-one starter.
17. Ryan Tannehill, Titans: (Free agency) Tannehill seems like a flavor-of-the-week quarterback. Every year, a signal-caller hits his stride at the end of a contract year. Every year, a team overpays for him. Belichick has gone on and on about how much he likes Tannehill, but that’s just how Belichick is. He always praises his opponents. I just don’t see the Patriots extending themselves financially for a player who got hot in the second half of the season. Tannehill presents too many risks when considering what other teams will be interested in paying him.
16. Blake Bortles, Rams: (Free agency) Bortles appeals for many of the same reasons as Keenum, though I’d argue there’s more potential with Bortles. He is still a physically gifted quarterback, who runs well. He has limitations, clearly. But he made just $1 million last season as the Rams backup. Perhaps his year under Sean McVay helped him take a step forward. Bortles would be a low-risk addition with some upside.
15. Cody Kessler, Patriots: (Rostered) Everyone is talking about Stidham, who spend the 2019 season as Tom Brady’s backup. But Kessler was on the roster, too. He studied the system, and took some reps with the scout team in practice. When given the opportunity to spend an offseason with the system, perhaps Kessler could surpass Stidham on the depth chart. Kessler, after all, was a third-round pick, like Stidham. And Kessler, a USC product, has starting experience in the NFL. Despite tough circumstances in Jacksonville and Cleveland, he has a 64.2 completion percentage for 2,215 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions in his career. There’s a lot to like.
Not impossible | Strong considerations | The favorites