Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Free-agent options for the Patriots at quarterback
Baker Mayfield Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Free-agent options for the Patriots at quarterback

Thursday, multiple outlets reported the hiring of Alex Van Pelt as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots

Van Pelt's last coaching stint was with the Cleveland Browns, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Van Pelt utilized a West Coast offense with the Browns, which he will likely be bringing to New England. 

A West Coast offense is described as a system that relies on the quarterback lining up under center and utilizing an array of three-step and five-step drops to make plays. A QB works best in a West Coast system when he has solid footwork and accuracy. A West Coast QB needs to be somewhat mobile and able to make throws while rolling out, but scrambling ability is not a necessity.

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. 

Pierce Downey

Pierce Downey is a Texas-based Patriots fan who has previously written for Stadium Rant and Around The Block Network in the past. Downey also appears on numerous podcasts and talk shows to discuss football. You can follow him on Twitter @patsdowney.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Shane Steichen dropped a big hint about the Colts’ QB battle
NFL

Shane Steichen dropped a big hint about the Colts’ QB battle

The Indianapolis Colts have yet to name their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but coach Shane Steichen may have dropped a big hint about who the choice may be. Steichen said Saturday that he was close to making a decision between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson in the ongoing camp battle. He may have tipped his hand, however, when answering a question about what traits he was looking for in his starter. “I think it’s the most consistent guy,” Steichen said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “I really do, because at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to move the football consistently up and down the field, and making good decisions. You know what I mean? I mean, at the end of the day, you can have splash plays, but if you’re doing that sparingly and up and down. … I think it’s got to be on a consistent basis, to get to where we want to go.” The knock on Richardson all along has been his inconsistency, and it is a bad sign for his prospects that Steichen put such an emphasis on that as part of his answer. Richardson’s physical talents are undeniable, but his decision-making has left something to be desired, and the offense has at times stalled out with him at the helm of it. Jones does not bring Richardson’s big-play potential, but would likely leave the Colts with a better idea of what they will get every Sunday. Richardson has put in extra work to try to win the job, but has been sidelined for a large part of the offseason with a shoulder injury, coupled with a dislocated pinky suffered during the preseason opener. It has also been suggested that Jones entered camp as the favorite, so Richardson had to play well enough to supplant him. Jones started Saturday’s preseason game and went 7-of-11 for 101 yards. Richardson went 6-of-11 for 73 yards, but he had one big play negated due to a penalty. The Colts ultimately lost 23-19 to the Green Bay Packers.

Proposed Arena Deal Puts Brady Tkachuk in Different Jersey
NHL

Proposed Arena Deal Puts Brady Tkachuk in Different Jersey

The Ottawa Senators’ long-awaited push to move downtown has revived more than just arena talk—it has also sparked speculation about the future of captain Brady Tkachuk. On episode 400 of the DFO Rundown podcast, NHL analyst Jason Gregor suggested that the timeline for the Senators’ new home at LeBreton Flats may not line up with Tkachuk’s contract, potentially influencing whether he stays in Ottawa. Tkachuk’s deal, an eight-year, $57.56 million pact signed in 2021, runs through 2028. By then, the Senators’ proposed arena—still facing construction and approval hurdles—might only just be opening. According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the building is expected to take at least two years to complete once the land is ready. That mismatch in timing could prove crucial. “Is that building done in three years? Probably not,” Gregor said. “So I’m going to actually sell [on him staying]. By the time that building is done, he’ll have moved on. I get a sense that he might be going to the USA.” Which Team Would Brady Tkachuk Join? It’s key to point out that Brady has never said he has intentions on leaving Ottawa. He’s excited about the upcoming season and working with the team to get better and become a legitimate playoff contender. His contract also includes a full no-move clause. It’s the control over any trade scenario he has that makes this interesting. In the past, he’s been loosely linked to the New York Rangers. In December, “The Post’s Larry Brooks reports the Blueshirts have been in trade talks with multiple teams — with Senators forward Brady Tkachuk their primary target.” The article added, “The 25-year-old Ottawa captain would bring a jolt to the lifeless Rangers lineup and in multiple ways.” Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen later ruled out there being any truth to the speculation. Of course, there is also the Florida Panthers, where Brady’s brother Matthew plays. Matthew loves Florida and is signed until 2030. Could bringing in the younger brother be one of the things that gets both players to sign team-friendly deals and extensions? The Senators have made it clear that Tkachuk remains central to their long-term plans, but without a finished arena to market as a franchise reset, Gregor wonders if Ottawa could face a challenge convincing its captain to stick around for the next chapter.

Chicago Bears: A running back trade has just opened up
NFL

Chicago Bears: A running back trade has just opened up

Forget trading the house and buying high for an aging Trey Hendrickson; the Chicago Bears have another player to think about getting in on before the regular season. On offense, the Bears have everything they need besides a left tackle and running back depth. Most of the focus in training camp has been on quarterback Caleb Williams and the passing game, but Chicago had a known weakness at running back entering the offseason. The Chicago Bears have a potential trade target Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Washington Commanders are shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the preseason. “Sources: The Commanders have been shopping RB Brian Robinson Jr. to teams around the NFL,” Schultz wrote. “The former 3rd-round pick out of Alabama is entering the final year of his contract.” During his first three seasons in the league, Robinson has rushed 570 times for 2,329 yards (4.1 yards per rush) and 15 touchdowns. He’s helpful as a receiver out of the backfield, recording 65 receptions for 587 yards, and five touchdowns. Robinson would be a helpful addition to a Bears offense that struggled with the run last season, finishing 25th in rushing in D’Andre Swift’s first season in Chicago. The lack of production had many hoping the Bears would land Ashton Jeanty, but they were way too far back in the draft. Behind Swift, the Bears have Roschon Johnson and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai.

Steelers' Rookie Defender Receives Strong Stamp Of Approval Following 2nd Preseason Game
NFL

Steelers' Rookie Defender Receives Strong Stamp Of Approval Following 2nd Preseason Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finding out a lot about their young players in the 2025 preseason, but there may be nobody who has surprised as much as rookie defensive end Yahya Black. A fifth-round pick out of Iowa, Black was touted as a stout, plugging run defender with not much else to offer. Through two preseason games, he's poised to prove everyone wrong. Black gained some notoriety in 2025 training camp from batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, something he likely learned from veteran defensive end Cameron Heyward. In his first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his presence didn't go unnoticed among NFL analysts. While rushing the passer was supposed to be a weakness, Black hasn't shown it so far. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass rush grade of 82.3 in Week 1, logging a pressure, a hurry, and two tackles on only 11 total snaps. In addition, he had a respectable run defense grade of 72.6. Black was PFF's fourth highest graded rookie interior defensive lineman in Week 1 of the preseason. Playing only seven pass-rush snaps, he had an impressive 42.9% pass rush win rate. Brian Baldinger and PFF aren't the only ones taking notice of Black. Bob Labriola of the Steelers' official website, in his recent asked and answered segment, wrote that he believes that Black won't only make the roster, but will be a regular in the defensive line rotation. "With training camp and 1 preseason game under his belt, I believe Yayha Black is on the path to showing enough to be a part of the regular season gameday rotation along the defensive line." Those are certainly strong words towards day three draft pick, but they definitely aren't unwarranted. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin also had some encouraging remarks for the young lineman following the 2025 NFL Draft, comparing him to a Ford F-350. In a limited sample size, and coming off of a good camp, Black has proven that his supposed weaknesses may have been misguided, and that there's more to him than early scouting reports suggested. There's no longer a question of whether he will make the team, and now the focus moves onto how much he will contribute right away in a crowded defensive line room. If Black can continue to show some pass rush versatility in addition to his already promising run defense, it'll be hard to keep him off of the field. Steelers' Yahya Black Is Dealing With A Concerning Arm Injury While Black got off to an explosive start in his first preseason game, things quieted down on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At least part of his disappearance in Week 2 can be attributed to an arm injury that Black suffered between the two games, prompting him to wear an arm brace that undoubtedly limited mobility. Black's PFF grade in game 2 plummeted to 54.3, with only a 50.5 pass rush grade. These grades are reflected in the box score, where Black played over double the snaps from the previous week and failed to record a single stat. Nonetheless, Black is looking to build on his promising start in the final week of the 2025 preseason, when the Steelers travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers. Will Black continue to build on his promising first performance, over a week removed from injury, and make his case for the starting defensive line rotation? The Steelers certainly hope so.