Patriots Targeting Baker Mayfield Over Kirk Cousins?

While the New England Patriots could draft a new quarterback, they also have the cap space to sign a veteran in free agency.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots are in a prime position to select a quarterback in the NFL Draft, with the No. 3 overall pick. However, they also have the cap space, with over $100 million this offseason, to sign or trade for one. 

If drafting a rookie isn't what the Patriots want to do, they can target a quarterback in free agency. That is where both Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins could be two targets.

In fact, according to a new report from the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed, the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback already has his fair share of "supporters" in Foxboro.

"Mayfield has supporters from within the Patriots’ organization, per sources, but there are some impediments to signing him, ..." Doug Kyed writes. "He was drafted by a front office that included current Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and coached by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney with the Browns."

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That familiarity surely can't hurt the Patriots in a potential pursuit of Mayfield, as they'll not only have a relationship with the 28-year-old but will also have inside knowledge of the player. 

However, familiarity isn't the only reason for interest, as Mayfield's performance this past season is another. After being cut by the Carolina Panthers at midseason a year ago, the Buccaneers provided Mayfield with a much-needed career resurgence.

The former No. 1 pick threw for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 games as he led the Buccaneers to a 9-8 season before helping them get past the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round just before they fell to the Detroit Lions. 

The career year now has Mayfield projected to be among the highest-valued quarterbacks in free agency alongside the Vikings' Cousins. Who, despite having much more sustained success than Mayfield, doesn't seem to be drawing the same interest from the Patriots. 

"The Patriots have not yet shown interest in Cousins, per sources," Kyed writes. "The Vikings free agent is coming off of a torn Achilles and is likely to sign for even more money than Mayfield."

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Before the injury, Cousins threw for 2,331 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in just eight games. Last season's injury broke Cousins' streak of eight seasons where he threw for 25 or more touchdowns.

However, combining the extra money with the fact that Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles at 35, the Patriots may see Mayfield as the longer-term option without as much risk.

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