NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Philip Rivers
By Samuel Teets
4. New England Patriots
This entire situation depends on Tom Brady. The 42-year-old made it quite clear he will not retire this offseason, which leaves the whole situation up in the air. It’s hard to imagine the six-time Super Bowl champion donning another team’s jersey.
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Early in February, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that New England could offer Brady a $30 million per year contract this offseason. That would put Brady among the seven highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. However, no significant subsequent reports support this position.
If the football world flips on its side and Brady decides to play somewhere else, Rivers offers the Patriots a savvy veteran they will not find anywhere else in free agency. Rivers displays greater consistency than players like Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston. His body of work is more expansive than Teddy Bridgewater‘s as well. The Patriots know what they’ll get if they sign Rivers.
When New England traded away Jimmy Garoppolo, the organization gave up its post-Brady era quarterback. Unless they believe Jarrett Stidham is the man of the future, the Patriots need a few more years to find a new successor. At 38 years old, Rivers can buy the Patriots time while keeping them in the playoff conversation.
It’s hard to argue against Bill Belichick’s resume. However, Rivers must realize New England lacks offensive weapons right now. The veteran may not want to join a team that needs a lot of offensive upgrades.