New England Patriots links 3/03/21 - Option: Pats stick with Stidham, use cap for multiple roster holes

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino’s 2021 free agent forecast: Tight Ends.
• Paul Perillo’s NFL Notes: Pats should stick with Stidham. “Rather than exhaust resources in an effort to perhaps crack the .500 mark, the wisest move might be to just stick with Jarrett Stidham and let the season play out. ... Part II of the 2021 plan: draft a developmental quarterback. ... Sticking with Stidham would allow Belichick to maintain all of his resources – picks, money and cap space – as he tries to piece back together a roster lacking in several areas.”
• Patriots launch Patriots Time Machine to chronicle the Patriots on Twitter and Instagram, recreating the 2001 Patriots as only social media can. /Odd but intriguing.
• Patriots Unfiltered 3/2: Free agency preview, evaluating the draft QBs; More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss presents his Patriots free agency overview: Big needs at QB, WR, TE and DL. With several roster holes and a lot of salary-cap space, it could be a splashy offseason in New England.
• Evan Lazar’s Patriots Free Agency Preview: Examining Cam Newton, Joe Thuney’s future with the Patriots.
• Chris Mason previews five potential salary cap casualties for New England.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Five Patriots/NFL things to know for Wednesday. 1) The Patriots continue to do their due diligence when it comes to the quarterback position, with the club apparently not concerned about a player’s projected draft slot.
• Andy Hart identifies the defensive line as one of the team’s many problems last season. New England has plenty of decisions to make with a number of key members of the group set to hit free agency.
• Evan Lazar profiles potential free agent targets WR Curtis Samuel and TE Jonnu Smith.
• Ryan Hannable thumbnails two available free-agent prospects: DT Malcom Brown and TE Kyle Rudolph.
• Brent Schwartz (PatriotsWire) Why Patriots fans can trust Bill Belichick in vital 2021 offseason.
• Tom E. Curran looks at the numbers: Recent history suggests investing in a first-round quarterback is far from a sure thing and could be a dicey proposition for the Patriots.
• Zack Cox believes re-signing David Andrews should be a priority for New England.
• Doug Kyed reports Kyle Van Noy would consider signing with the Patriots.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) A Kyle Van Noy reunion in Foxboro is far from a slam dunk.
• Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) McCourty twins clearly want Kyle Van Noy to make a return to Patriots.
• Doug Kyed says the Patriots would have to overpay to acquire QB Deshaun Watson, but they might still be able to compete for a Super Bowl title.
• Jacob Camenker highlights Albert Breer on how the only way Jimmy Garoppolo would be available to the Patriots is if the 49ers find somebody that they see as a clear upgrade from their starting QB.
• Zack Cox notes veteran CB Jason McCourty has yet to confirm whether he plans to return for a 13th NFL season. /We still doing this ‘player has to confirm he’s playing’ thing?
• Sean T. McGuire talks about a couple of CBS Sports reports that Stephon Gilmore could be on the trade block this offseason.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) 2021 NFL Draft Profile: Oklahoma WR Tylan Wallace.
• Dakota Randall mentions how Chase Winovich has grown increasingly obsessed with New Hampshire. /Fun state to visit, no doubt.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) NFL Rumors: “Serious interest” league-wide in Kyle Rudolph.
• Lauren Campbell notes Twitter had plenty of Pats fans reacting to the news of tight end Kyle Rudolph being released by the Vikings.
• Bill Burt writes about the NFL’s new plague: Brady Derangement Syndrome. “Aaron Rodgers is realizing — too late, I might add — that if things don’t change for the better in Green Bay, he will be defined by those wonderful “Hail Mary” passes he’s famous for completing instead of winning.”
• Michael Hurley tells the insane story of Terry Bradshaw taking the fake name ‘Tom Brady’ in 1983.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Steve Balestrieri discuss the chances of a Stephon Gilmore trade, seeing Alex Smith in New England, and profile Alabama’s DT Christian Barmore and LB Dylan Moses. (45 min.)
• Patriots Talk Podcast: Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry debate whether the Pats should bother with drafting a quarterback in the first round. (40 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL insider notes: Expect another wave of big-name trades and not just QBs, plus Deshaun Watson clues and more.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) What the NFL free-agency period looks like for all 32 teams. “The Patriots have an abundance of salary-cap space in an offseason when many teams are feeling a crunch, so there’s an opportunity for them to think big to fill glaring needs.”
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Ranking the 100 best free agents.
• Conor Orr (SI) An NFL quarterback’s guide to forcing your way out of town.
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Alex Smith landing spots: Ranking eight potential 2021 destinations. Patriots 4th.
• Mike Jones (USA Today) How are NFL draft prospects judged without a 2021 combine? It’s complicated.
• Joe Schad (Palm Beach Post) Dolphins plan to release former Patriot Kyle Van Noy one year after giving him large free-agent contract.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Kyle Van Noy “surprised and disappointed” by Dolphins release.
• First Take (ESPN) Why Mel Kiper is comparing Mac Jones to Tom Brady. (2.50 min. video)
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Teams shouldn’t retire jerseys if they don’t intend to keep them retired.
• Matt Miller (TheDraftScout) Scouting Notebook; Mock Draft. Pats pick TCU Safety Tre’von Moehrig at 15. “No quarterback, but the Patriots get a dynamic playmaker at the safety position who can line up everywhere in the secondary.”
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Eagles, Patriots trade up for QBs. Patriots acquire No. 12 from 49ers for No. 15, 2021 fourth-rounder, 2022 fourth-rounder. Pats pick WR Devonta Smith at No. 12.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots manage to keep emails in Bret Bielema legal fight secret, for now.
• Jori Epstein (USA Today) Washington Football Team will not have cheerleaders in 2021 but will add coed dance squad. /Now multiple sexes will be able to sue the WFT for harrassment.