New England Patriots: Curtis Samuel and the Pats’ top free-agent targets
4. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
It is going to be interesting to see what the New England Patriots do at the quarterback position this offseason. Honestly, there are not any perfect solutions for the Pats at the position, unless the Cowboys unexpectedly let Dak Prescott out of their grasp.
That being said, there are a couple of solid bridge options who could help the Patriots get by in the short-term while they try to find/groom a long-term quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick stands out as my favorite option of the bunch.
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Fitzpatrick has had a long and successful NFL career as a fringe starting quarterback. At 39-years-old, he is obviously not a long-term solution at the position, but Fitzpatrick would bring the Patriots some much-needed stability at the most important position on the field. Finding a young developmental quarterback would still be a key here, but Fitzpatrick certainly makes sense as a solid bridge option.
3. Matt Milano, LB
Prying Matt Milano away from the Buffalo Bills would not be easy, but the New England Patriots are in a much better cap situation than the Bills and could theoretically add him to the mix if they are willing to pay. How far the Pats would be willing to go on a player like Milano would likely depend on the return of linebacker Donta’ Hightower. If Hightower returns, their need at linebacker may not require such a big investment.
That being said, whether Hightower returns or not, Milano stands tall as a great fit for this team. He is an athletic linebacker who shows great range on the field and can impact the game in a variety of ways. He is a capable run defender, has shown some upside when rushing the quarterback off of the edge and is a legitimate impact player in coverage.
Milano is an extremely versatile linebacker prospect who would fit in particularly well with the New England Patriots. He will not come cheap but taking an impact defender away from a division rival and placing him on the Pats’ roster could be worth the high cost.