Week 12 marked another low point for the Patriots with a quarterback change being made at halftime and a missed field goal sealing a 10-7 loss to the Giants. To no surprise, roster moves could be coming as a result. 
Mac Jones got the start after a week of uncertainty under center for New England. The former first-rounder’s struggles continued, however, and he a threw a pair of interceptions in the first half. That led to the decision to bring in Bailey Zappe, a swap which did not pay the desired dividends. The team’s offense moved the ball better with the latter in place, but a missed 35-yard field goal in the final minute ended the Patriots’ chances of tying the game.
When asked if additions at the quarterback and kicker positions could be coming soon, head coach Bill Belichick left the door open to moves in the coming days. In the latter case in particular, it would come as no surprise if competition for rookie Chad Ryland were to brought in. The fourth-rounder has missed a 35-yarder in two straight games, bringing his overall success rate on the season to 66.7% (12 for 18), though he has been perfect on extra points.
“Yeah, I don’t really see that right now,” Belichick said on the matter of seeking out another quarterback option, via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “But I mean, I wouldn’t rule anything out. Anything that would help our team… I don’t know. Nobody that comes to mind but we’ll see.”
The Patriots have made numerous changes at the QB spot in 2023, at one point having Jones as the only signal-caller on the active roster. Zappe cleared waivers during final roster cutdowns, but he has remained in the organization and received brief looks under center recently. Both he and Jones have not shown enough progress this season to instill confidence in either for 2024 and beyond, though, leading to questions about the team’s long-term future at the position. New England waived Will Grier over the weekend, and he will be eligible to re-sign via the practice squad if he goes unclaimed on Monday.
Plenty of options are available with respect to unsigned kickers. The position was one of stability in New England for four years with veteran Nick Folk, but the decision to draft Ryland signaled the end of his Patriots tenure. Folk, 39, has connected on 22 of 23 field goal tries with the Titans, along with each of his 17 extra point tries. A reunion with the veteran cannot take place now, of course, but a different experienced option could be brought in to compete with Ryland.
As Belichick noted, though, nothing is imminent regarding roster shake-ups at any position on the 2-9 Patriots. The team has just over $2MM in cap space to use on any potential new faces brought in to help in the closing stages of a lost season.
Never. Draft. A. Kicker.
You wouldn’t use a 7th round pick on Justin Tucker? I think you would be in the minority there.
they should sign QB Alex McGough off the Packers practice squad
What happened to ‘The Patriot Way!’? Seems to have gone MIA after Tom left for Tampa.
The new Patriot Way involves a rotating door with a steady supply of below-average players being signed and released. BB is going to burn down the franchise on his way out…
That’s precisely why Tom left. He wanted to playing for a winning team. No one disputes that Tampa’s roster was stocked and NE’s sucked.
Give Malik a chance lmao the season is over anyway
he’s def had chances
No he hasn’t haha
ohh I thought u were talking about Malik Willis..
then I was going to make a joke about how I’d give Malik Cunningham a chance before Malik Willis…
n then I was just like Oh.
There you go lmao
2 million in cap space for a terrible team. Not good
Belichick has to be a little concerned when he sees that the Bruins and Celtics have better passers than the Patriots.
Mac Jones for Zach Wilson
Randomness for the sake of randomness
I’m an agent of chaos
Honestly–I’m not sure if the Jets would accept that deal.
We’re dunking on Jones, but I think at least having a playoff appearance should speak for itself. The question is, why would New England want someone with less passing capability than what they already have?
If trades were even possible, Cooper Rush in Dallas or Davis Mills in Houston would be my most interesting names to watch. Drew Lock in Seattle is a distant possibility. These guys may be available in the offseason as far as backups go, or as insurance starters for a team that picks a new quarterback. Tannehill, however, could be the biggest name in that department.
Thing is, I expect New England to have Jones in place in that role next year, even after they acquire another QB. Unless somebody wants to trade for Jones (not likely, given that there seem to be fewer openings next year than this year at that spot), I think he stays in NE by 2024’s starting date. I can only think of a few teams that may be in the market for a bridge starter next year, and none of them have high chances to go out on a limb for one versus what they currently have. There’s just not many options for Jones outside of NE, especially because the door on his starting career doesn’t appear completely over yet. It could be soon, but it doesn’t feel like it’s completely happened as of yet.
Tannehill might be the only option worse than Mac.
he’s basically a washed up Mac.
could see the same career arc with Mac, as Tannahill..
fizzle out on drafted team.. sign with a rebuilder on the come-up .. have some success with a loaded roster … fizzle out again as the roster depletes
I’m not as down on Tannehill, but I think that, regardless of either of our opinions, he will be a name to watch there as a spot starter/high end backup. Tannehill is an experienced player who can easily be replaced with whomever you want as a starter. What I mean to say is that he’s a safe option for a team who wants a guy that they can pull without controversy, even if he plays well. Tannehill isn’t going to start for more than a season; if he’s signed, he should know that he’s going to be replaced, ala Andy Dalton or McCown or any other veteran backup that we’ve seen in the past.
In theory, Jones could offer more long term, simply due to his age. If a needy team (again, and I want to emphasize, I don’t see many next year) signs Jones and he plays great, there will be questions as to whether he should get a chance to continue as a starter. Tannehill won’t have that issue. That’s why, as of today at least, Tannehill probably has more of an offseason market than Jones does. Tannehill is clearly a backup right now. Jones is not so clearly a starter right now. I think he’s likely in NE at the beginning of 2024 as it stands today, but I can’t count out the possibility of an offseason trade if NE finds a taker. I don’t see many takers right now, but you never know what will change between now and the draft, which will likely be the end of any possible window for a Jones trade. Ironically, if Jones does stay put, I could easily see Tannehill ending up in NE as a backup.
Tannehill doesn’t move the needle. the Patriots need to get someone impactful in the draft.
Put Mac in a competition with a rookie next year, and at best, he bridges the first couple games for Maye/Caleb/insert name top 5 pick qb
I agree. Tannehill to me would be insurance, especially if the Pats draft a replacement and rid themselves of Jones. That’s the main scenario I see that results in his going to NE. Tannehill should be expected to be reliable, which is the one aspect NE’s offense lacks most.
Where is the veteran leadership there, that’s had success? David Andrews may be the only vet who qualifies. The O.C. is new and is far removed from his last success, and the players are either too young or too far removed from success themselves to provide that consistency. It doesn’t need to be Tannehill (he just seems like he’ll be available and fits the example), but NE could certainly benefit from having a veteran starter who’s had consistency in the room as a backup or possible fall back option.
I don’t think that Tannehill, or a similar veteran, moves the needle as a starter, and I don’t see him as such, but he could be a good backup who helps the young starter off the field. At least he can provide some stability to an offense that desperately needs it before it can start even trying to get creative. I just can see a scenario where Tannehill ends up in NE, or someone similar. I do think that if Jones is retained, a competition with a new player would be necessary, however. I agree with that.
Mason Crosby still out there?