Patriots
If New England cannot land a blue-chip QB within the 2024 NFL Draft, it’d deal with free-agent targets.
After two seasons with the Broncos, Russell Wilson may discover himself as the large fish on the free-agent market within the coming months.
Denver made the decision earlier this week to bench Wilson for his or her remaining two video games of the 2023 season, with the previous Tremendous Bowl champion now anticipated to be lower in March, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
The Broncos’ resolution to bench their beginning QB is motivated by Wilson’s sizable contract and the potential ramifications if he was to get injured throughout ether of the workforce’s remaining two video games this season.
Wilson is assured $39 million for the upcoming 2024 marketing campaign. He additionally has $37 million in damage ensures that change into absolutely assured if he’s nonetheless on the roster on the fifth day of the 2024 league yr that begins in March.
As such, the writing is on the wall that the Broncos will lower ties with Wilson in some unspecified time in the future in March so as to keep away from a few of that assured cash touchdown on their books.
But when Wilson does hit the open market, the place will the nine-time Professional Bowler land?
On Thursday, The Athletic listed 4 doable touchdown spots for Wilson: The Raiders, Commanders, Vikings … and Patriots.
At first look, New England diverting its focus to an ageing QB like Wilson would possibly appear to be an about-face amid a 2023 season the place many of the focus has been fixated on touchdown a blue-chip QB within the upcoming NFL Draft.
However with New England’s current 2-2 stretch underneath Bailey Zappe hampering the workforce’s hopes of a top-three choose in April, may Wilson find yourself being a viable possibility in Foxborough?
Let’s undergo the professionals and cons of the Patriots truly touchdown Wilson in free company.
PRO: Patriots is likely to be higher off utilizing first-round choose elsewhere to repair offense
Let’s face it, we’re in all probability not even rolling by way of this train if New England was nonetheless in line to choose first or second total within the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
If the Patriots had been able to pick out both USC’s Caleb Williams or UNC’s Drake Maye, Invoice Belichick (or whoever is working the present in Foxborough in 2024) would have a possible franchise QB to construct round within the years forward.
However with New England now projected to pick out fourth total, the writing appears to be on the wall that each Williams and Maye are out of the Patriots’ grasp. The case may also be made that New England may miss out on LSU QB Jayden Daniels if he goes off the board third total.
There’s additionally no assure that the Patriots finish the yr in a top-five spot on the draft leaderboard — particularly in the event that they put up one other win in opposition to both the Payments or Jets over the following two weekends.
If New England loses out on Williams/Maye/Daniels and doesn’t plan on relinquishing future belongings to try to commerce as much as choose one in every of that QB trio, the higher play is likely to be for the Patriots to make use of that coveted first-round choose to shore up one other key emptiness on offense.
Whether or not it’s a possible left deal with for the long run like Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu — or a possible No. 1 wideout like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. or LSU’s Malik Nabers — the Patriots may nonetheless considerably improve an space of want whereas trying to find a veteran free-agent QB to jolt a listless offense.
It will not be the best state of affairs for a New England workforce seeking to rebuild, however the Patriots should take advantage of the hand they’ve dealt after choosing up two wins of their final three weeks.
PRO: Wilson is likely to be the most effective free-agent possibility if New England takes that route
If New England is pressured to look on the free-agent marketplace for assist underneath heart, Wilson is likely to be the best choice accessible.
Although his finest days are probably behind him, Wilson truly put collectively a robust season in Denver earlier than getting banished to the bench.
Wilson threw for 3,070 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, along with his completion proportion rating tenth within the NFL.
Different potential free-agent targets for the Patriots embrace Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield. Granted, there’s additionally an opportunity that each QBs in the end re-sign with their present squads.
Even when Cousins is an interesting possibility if he does go to market, the 35-year-old can also be coming off of a season-ending Achilles damage.
Different free-agent choices for New England embrace Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Sam Darnold, Marcus Mariota, and Tyrod Taylor. Not precisely the cream of the crop, at the very least as a viable QB1.
Quite than shell out a good portion of their $73 million in accessible cap house (per OverTheCap.com) on a participant like Cousins, New England may goal Wilson for what might be a less expensive price ticket.
Contemplating that Wilson is already assured $39 million from the Broncos in 2024, he is likely to be prepared to signal for an reasonably priced cope with no matter workforce he finally lands with.
Transferring ahead with a 35-year-old QB will not be the most effective path shifting ahead, however Wilson is doubtlessly the most effective accessible possibility if New England does chart such a course this offseason.
CON: New England could be settling for short-term good points
Sure, the case might be made that the 2024 Patriots could be far improved with a season of Wilson working issues.
Wilson alone ought to be capable to bolster New England’s offense, with that unit additional lifted by a blue-chip prospect like Harrison Jr. or Alt — in addition to one other potential signing or two in free company.
And if New England’s protection continues to play because it did this season (with the returns of Christian Gonzalez and Matt Judon looming massive), the 2024 Patriots might be in line for a bounce-back season.
That’s all properly and good. However what about 2025? 2026?
At this level, Robert Kraft and the Patriots fanbase are determined for some hope on the horizon — even when it’s simply within the type of a spirited playoff push subsequent winter.
However as New England tries to proper the ship and carve out a brand new identification throughout the post-Brady period, deciding on a 36-year-old QB isn’t precisely probably the most sustainable path shifting ahead.
Sure, the 2024 Patriots may shock many subsequent season, however they’re additionally not going to be viable contenders — even when Wilson thrives and different additions make fast impacts.
And if New England enters 2025 with a stout protection, promising items on offense … and no quarterback? They’re just about again at sq. one.
New England may roll the cube and goal a QB later within the 2024 Draft like a Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, or J.J. McCarthy and incorporate them into the system whereas letting Wilson run the present subsequent season.
If Williams/Maye/Daniels are out of the equation, New England might need to accept this succession plan.
CON: Wilson might be in line for an additional decline
Sure, Wilson was within the midst of a stable season in Denver earlier than getting benched earlier this week. Even when he’s now not the elite top-five QB he was throughout his days in Seattle, loads of groups may put collectively a successful season with a 2023 Wilson on the helm.
However there’s additionally no assure that an ageing veteran like Wilson can proceed to carry regular as an above-average QB in 2024 and past.
As encouraging as this 2023 season was for Wilson, his first foray in Denver was nothing in need of a catastrophe — with the QB solely throwing 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over 15 video games.
If New England as soon as once more neglects so as to add weapons this offseason by way of both free company or the draft, you can also make a compelling argument that no free-agent QB will be capable to absolutely proper the ship of a Patriots offense severely missing by way of playmakers.
Sure, a 35-year-old Wilson would possibly provide larger upside than Bailey Zappe. However as Father Time continues to sap away Wilson’s mobility and pocket passing, simply how far may that hole be if Wilson declines in 2024?
E-newsletter Signup
Keep updated on all the newest information from Boston.com