The Patriots were the sixth-best team in the AFC last season. Now they’re probably seventh, thanks to the Broncos acquiring Russell Wilson earlier this week.
Soon, they could be eighth, assuming another AFC contender upgrades at QB.
The Patriots should feel good about Mac Jones. He was the best quarterback of his rookie class and won 10 games. The Alabama standout showed some poise in big moments and completed 67.6 percent of his passes. Unlike other rookies, Jones wasn’t very mistake-prone.
But he’s not an elite passer (at least not yet), and the Patriots haven’t surrounded him with an elite cast of skill players. Maybe that will change. The Patriots have reportedly done “excessive work” on several available wideouts, including Allen Robinson.
They’re also reportedly looking at linebackers. The Patriots have several holes, and only own roughly $13 million in cap space.
Their biggest shortcoming last year was their inability to stop the Bills, who only punted once in their final two meetings. Josh Allen owned Bill Belichick.
Now the Patriots will have to contend with Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson — nevermind former MVP Lamar Jackson. Justin Herbert is dangerous, too, though the Patriots successfully suffocated him last season. We have to be fair.
While the Patriots defeated the Chargers, they fell short against the Colts, who throttled them 27-17 with Carson Wentz only throwing for 57 yards. Amazingly, the Colts were able to shed Wentz to the Washington Commanders, who are paying his full $28 million salary … for some reason.
That means the Colts have the cash to add an accomplished pass-thrower, such as Kirk Cousins. The three-time Pro Bowler is only signed through 2022, and the Vikings could be pursued to move him.
The Colts are set to start their sixth different quarterback for the sixth straight season, so clearly the one-and-done formula doesn’t bother them. If the Vikings don’t trade Cousins — and admittedly, that seems likely — they could pursue Jimmy Garoppolo. Indy probably wouldn’t have dealt Wentz without an upgrade in mind.
Garoppolo may not be better than Jones, but he would be an improvement for the Colts, who once again, beat the Patriots in a crucial game last December. Garoppolo’s career record is 33-14.
The Steelers are the other AFC contender without a quarterback, unless you count Mason Rudolph. With a supposed weak draft class, Pittsburgh may add a veteran instead.
Former NFL QB Shaun King says Deshaun Watson wants to play for the Steelers, for what that’s worth. Even disregarding that far-fetched scenario, the Steelers could be in the Garoppolo sweepstakes, too. Remember: Pittsburgh qualified for the playoffs last season with a decrepit Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers would be competitive with Garoppolo, too.
It’s worth mentioning all of the above teams have actual offensive coordinators as well.
The chairs are being rearranged at the top of the AFC, and the Patriots keep falling further behind.
