2020 NFL free agency: Patriots reportedly showed interest in Panthers backup quarterback Kyle Allen

The Patriots seem reportedly set on promoting second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham to the starting role, especially after signing Brian Hoyer on a one-year deal. Hoyer wasn’t the only player the Patriots were interested in adding, tough, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. In a recent mailbag, one of the main topics was how the Patriots were going to proceed at the QB position:

My belief is that the Patriots’ post-Brady plan has 2020 as a year to get younger and get finances straightened out, and both should be apparent in how they handle the quarterback spot. One player I’d heard they sniffed around a little was Kyle Allen, who was traded from Carolina to Washington on Monday, and he’s another one that falls into the Stidham/Hoyer category economically.

Breer mentioned Kyle Allen, the Panthers backup who filled in for an injured Cam Newton for the entire 2019 season. Overall, he completed 62% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 17 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and a passer rating of 80.0 (ESPN Total QBR of 36.4, which ranked 29th amongst qualified QBs). After starting the season 4-0 with seven touchdowns and zero picks, Allen the Panthers limped to a 5-11 finish.

Allen would have been a solid potential option as a backup to Stidham due to being cheap and having 17 games of starting experience in two years. The draft pick cost to acquire him would not have been too prohibitive either, as the Redskins ended up trading a fifth-round selection to Carolina for his services. With Allen now traded to Washington and reunited with his head coach, Ron Rivera, the Patriots’ best options at the quarterback position are now all available in the draft.

I believe New England will take a deep look at the position for one reason or another. In addition to Stidham and Hoyer, the team has fourth-year QB Cody Kessler under contract. With Stidham as the presumptive starter, Hoyer and Kessler will be battling it out for the backup role. Depending on how the draft goes, the Patriots could end up taking on a mid-round option they like similar to last year when they took Stidham in the fourth round.