The New England Patriots’ season teetering on the edge of irrelevancy heading into a Week 7 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. At 1-5, another loss would have essentially sealed their fate as a non-playoff team. But, that loss never came as New England picked up a huge upset victory on the arm of Mac Jones.
Jones has had a tumultuous third season in the NFL. He has been benched twice, unable to recapture the success he had as a rookie. His job is seemingly on the line every week, but he quieted some of the naysayers against the Bills with arguably his best single-game performance of his career.
The Alabama product completed 25-of-30 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns, throwing zero interceptions for only the second time. That performance couldn’t have come at a better time for the Patriots, who needed a win in the worst way.
Jones likely bought himself some time as the team’s starting quarterback, but no one would blame New England if they continued scouring the market. Was Week 7 a turning point for him or will he revert back to his previous form?
Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins will be telling. If Jones struggles again, the Patriots would look to make a move before the NFL Trade Deadline on October 31st. If they want to bring in a more established quarterback, a few options exist in the opinion of Ryan Heckman of Musket Fire.
One potential target could be Teddy Bridgewater of the Detroit Lions. Bridgewater was a late offseason addition in Detroit and is currently backing up Jared Goff. It would be hard to imagine the Lions being willing to move him as they are playing at a high level.
Should an injury occur to Goff, Bridgewater is someone capable of stepping into the lineup and keeping the team afloat. That kind of insurance is something a potential contender such as the Lions won’t easily give up on.
Another option for the Patriots to consider is Taylor Heinicke of the Atlanta Falcons. Given the inconsistencies of their starter, Desmond Ridder, Heinicke could find himself under center for the Falcons sooner than later.
But, if they are committed to Ridder, a late-round pick could be enough for the Patriots to bring him to New England. Heinicke has limitations as a full-time starter but is a gamer. He kept the Washington Commanders alive in recent seasons when injuries occurred to their starter.
Last but not least, Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans. This would be a bold move to make, as it would signal New England believes they have a shot at the playoffs but don’t believe Jones can get them there.
Sidelined for Week 8, a Tannehill trade could be coming down the pipe soon as the Titans look ready to accept the reality of rebuilding. He would be a nice upgrade over Jones and provide New England with a veteran stopgap option as they look to find their quarterback of the future.