The New England Patriots are reportedly showing interest in free agent quarterback Marcus Mariota. In addition to New England, the Indianapolis Colts have also shown interest as well per Pro Football Network.
Signing Marcus Mariota would not be in the best interest of the New England Patriots. For one, Mariota is coming off a season that saw him benched for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Mariota did manage to put up respectable numbers in the 2019 season. Throwing for 1,203 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions, those numbers seem passable at face-value. However, he had two games where he did not record a touchdown, and in his start against Denver, he recorded two interceptions and was benched in the third quarter of that game.
If you look at his statistics over the past couple of seasons, it is definitely noticeable when he had his best years. Take 2016 for example. He had 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the year. In 2017 however, it was a bit of a different story. He recorded 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He fared slightly better in 2018, throwing 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
There is some question about his durability, too. However, it always seems like his injuries set him back a bit. he shows flashes of greatness, but the injuries always seem to get in his way.
In terms of just value alone, it is expected that he will get a contract worth $7 million to $10 million in total. That is certainly a good price for a free agent quarterback. If this was just a question of money, I would definitely take a flyer on Mariota. However, the above factor make it seem like Mariota would be a risk.
The New England Patriots should steer clear from him just due to inconsistent play last season and his recent injuries. The Patriots need a more impactful quarterback if they want to prepare for their future.