Ever since Tom Brady announced his departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there has been a fair amount of speculation in regards to who will start for the New England Patriots in 2020. Should they pick up veteran free agent to help bridge the gap? Or should they go with second-year signal-caller Jarrett Stidham?
For 2020, the answer is clear. The Patriots quarterback search should stop at Stidham.
We saw a bit of Stidham in 2019, albeit in limited action. He appeared in three games overall, with his first game of the season being the biggest sample size of all. He went two-of-three on the afternoon, throwing for 14 yards and an interception against the Jets on September 22. An 11-yard pass was his longest of the afternoon. He showed potential at Auburn and Baylor, even if his final season was lackluster.
He broke onto the college football scene in 2015 as a freshman with Baylor. He appeared in 10 games, throwing for 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Starting as a true freshman, it was evident he had talent. He sat out the 2016 season due to transfer rules, and would spend the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Auburn. The 2017 season was his best, as he threw for 3,158 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
He is still raw in terms of development. However, there is no doubt that there is something there. We saw it a bit in the preseason last year. In particular, his connection with Jakobi Myers was notable.
Stidham in camp & pre-season showed great poise & decision making for a fourth round pick and was praised all year by how well he processed information. He has the mobility and can get the ball out quick and accurate. Roll the 🎲 with #4. #Patriotspic.twitter.com/oLL2L2vhLr
— Ryan Spagnoli (@Ryan_Spags) March 19, 2020
New England needs to see what Stidham can do. For perspective, the New England Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo at a time when Brady was still on top of his game. They had room to work in terms of letting Garoppolo  develop for a couple seasons. Garoppolo was drafted in 2014 with the 62nd overall pick. New England would go on to win two additional Super Bowls with Garoppolo still on the roster.
The Patriots do not have that luxury right now. They are in a rebuilding phase that allows them to test their options for the future. There is no immediate pressure to win right now, and New England should see what they have at their disposal. At the very least, it will give them a glimpse into if they need to make a move for another quarterback down the road, or if they can ride with Stidham for the foreseeable future.
[vertical-gallery id=83032]