Addressing quarterback position will dominate New England Patriots’ offseason once again
The New England Patriots head into the 2021 offseason with a gaping hole at quarterback. Cam Newton, 31, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The same goes for Brian Hoyer, 35. It would be a surprise if either player returns, although crazier things have happened.
The Patriots don’t have a lot invested in this ever-important position. Jarrett Stidham, 24, enters 2021 in the third year of his four-year rookie contract. He’s affordable, accounting for a $1,008,423 cap hit. That number rises to around $1.123 million in 2022.
The only other quarterback on the roster is Jacob Dolegala, 24, who spent last season on the practice squad. He signed a futures deal. He’ll be an $850,000 cap hit in 2021 – if he makes the 53-man roster. He would then be a restricted free agent in 2022.
![Foxboro, MA, Dec 28, 2020 - Patriots quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham warming up before taking on the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on Monday evening. [The Providence Journal / Kris Craig] ORG XMIT: 10041227A](https://www.wordpressdynamos.com/timesofnewscdn/USA/8799d_57c70178-029a-48a0-90a9-b73e4d14ad62-RIPRO-122820-SP_PATRIOTS_01.JPG)
2020 review
Simply put, it was ugly and a big reason why the Patriots finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
No one said replacing Tom Brady was going to be easy. The first season in 20 years without Brady under center was problematic. Even after he signed with Tampa Bay, the Pats had little cap space. They entered the summer with Stidham and Hoyer at quarterback before bringing in Newton before training camp.
Newton won the starting job quickly. He brought a different style of quarterbacking to New England as he set Patriots franchise records at the position with 12 rushing touchdowns and 592 rushing yards.
NATE DAVIS:For wannabe QB GMs who want to be more like Tom Brady, be careful what you ask for
SUPER BOWL BREAKTHROUGH:Which of NFL’s 12 title-starved teams is closest to Lombardi Trophy?
POWER RANKINGS:Where do Patriots land as 2020 season ends
The bad was when he had to throw the ball. Newton finished with 2,657 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He averaged a career-low 177.1 passing yards per game. There were 33 quarterbacks in the NFL who averaged more passing yards per game than Newton and had more touchdown passes. He threw for over 300 yards in two games, but failed to reach 100 yards in four contests.
