Free-agent options for the Patriots at quarterback

The Patriots are looking for a QB this offseason. Understanding Van Pelt's system makes narrowing down New England's options at QB much easier. Although New England may take a QB through the NFL Draft, there are a number of options in free agency. 

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Mayfield is an extremely mobile, sturdy QB with a great arm. He threw 28 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in the 2023 regular season, and led his team past the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 wild-card game before falling short to the Detriot Lions.

Mayfield has proven he can work well in Van Pelt's West Coast system — as he threw for 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 2020 when the two were in Cleveland — but there is one knock against him: his steep price tag.

Mayfield is due for a massive extension because of his successful 2023 campaign. The Buccaneers may be ready to match his desired salary — which could be close to $40 million a season — but the Patriots probably aren't. Mayo is just settling into his new role as head coach. Pulling the trigger on a deal as big as that, for a QB who is coming off one good year, is a risky move. 

Even then, Mayfield may not even want to leave Tampa Bay in the first place, which would make New England's offer irrelevant. It would be interesting to see Mayfield with the Patriots for the 2024 season, but a lot of dominoes have to fall in the right direction for that to happen.

Jacoby Brissett, Washington Commanders 

At first, putting Brissett in as the starting QB would look foolish. He doesn't come close in skill to the other options available, and he is already 31 years old, meaning his already mediocre form is poised to decline. His year with Van Pelt in 2022 was promising —  notching 14 total touchdowns to six interceptions in 11 starts — and he spent one year — 2016 — in New England, but the 31 other NFL teams aren't viewing him as a starting candidate for a reason. 

The important thing to understand with a signing like Brissett is that the move would not be made in a vacuum. QB is the most expensive position in football. If the Patriots sign Brissett for a relatively small amount, that would open the door to make multiple splash moves at wide receiver, running back and tackle. If Brock Purdy's 49ers have taught us anything, it is that a typically unflattering QB can be elevated to play at an inconceivably high level if there are good pieces around him.

Brissett is the cheap, risky option that looks genius if it pans out, but horrendous if it fails. Once again, it is hard to conceive Mayo taking a route this unforeseen in his first year of coaching, but he surely will be looking at all choices on the table.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Cousins has the experience and leadership any team wants in a QB, but he might not still possess the ability to play at a high level in the NFL. Cousins will be 36 years old by the time the 2024 NFL season kicks off, and, to make matters worse, he will be coming off of a torn Achilles. Betting on an old QB is stressful enough, but betting on an old, recently-injured QB is incredibly risky, especially so considering Cousins would not have the cheap price tag Brissett offers.

There are several upsides to choosing Cousins. He is the most established QB out of Brissett and Mayfield, and although he does not have direct experience with Van Pelt, he picked up some experience with a West Coast offense in 2012 and 2013 under former Commanders head coach Mike Shanahan.

With that being said, the Patriots would still be a huge change of scenery for Cousins. Although similar in certain schematic aspects, Van Pelt's offense is noticeably different than the one Cousins worked with, and he also is accustomed to throwing to All-Pro Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson on a daily basis, while the Patriots have not rostered a 1,000 yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.

Cousins to the Patriots would require a lot of adjustment and off-field work with coaches and players. When on his game, he is a solid QB, so the Patriots would not be crazy to trust him — there are just a lot of question marks at this point in the offseason.