Quote:
Originally Posted by kccrow
He has to know Cam Newton is getting him nowhere fast, and thus the 1-year deal again.
He had the pleasure of drafting low at the position from day 1 when he had Bledsoe. He lucked into Brady being an all-time great, then was able to continue to draft low at the position for 20 years. He doesn't have time to waste nor a QB of Bledsoe's caliber, much less Brady's caliber, starting for him.
He knows he can win with smart and accurate and Jones is both. I don't think he bets the farm on Jones being there later and I really don't think he settles for Kyle Trask or David Mills.
It's entirely possible he doesn't draft any of them, but it's just another year closer to retirement with no chance at anything.
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Bill Belichick has enough of an ego and confidence in his coaching/GM ability that he believes he can win a Super Bowl with Cam Newton next year even with the full recognition that Newton won't be a top 10 QB.
The key here is the Patriots salary cap situation heading into this season was very good so the team has already been able to patch up several of its holes. Offensive line is weaker right now than last year but team overall should be better. It is hard to consistently seriously compete for championships in the modern NFL with average starting QB which is probably the best Cam can do at this point but it becomes a more manageable to task when that quarterback is not paid much and he allows you to load up on other positions.
This being said, Belichick is smart enough to know that relying upon Cam and especially relying upon Cam to play for peanuts is not a long term solution.
Let's assume with improved weapons and a year in the system Newton has a good to very good regular season and a great post season leading Patriots to AFC Championship game where they lose a close game to the Chiefs/Bills/whoever.
Even without making the Super Bowl, that high profile playoff game gets some desperate team to offer Cam 2 years 60 million with 40 million guaranteed. Why not? What does a team have to lose if Cam doesn't work out that first year?
Now if Cam really struggles even with better skilled position players around him, you need a replacement heading into 2022 season or fans will get more upset. So for sure Belichick will be interested in getting a young QB but I am not sure if he is going to love any of the quarterbacks enough to trade up for. A lot of speculation that Gilmore could be traded and could use those proceeds to help pay for the cost of trading up.