NFL Rumors: Patriots Snubbing Andy Dalton Hints At Major Rebuilding Ploy

The New England Patriots are the NFL team in focus now, mainly because of Tom Brady's departure. They are left with a deep hole at the quarterback position although there are big names in the free-agent market they may consider. So far, none among Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, and Andy Dalton have gone beyond rumors and speculations.

The Patriots' lack of interest in Dalton has surprised critics. The 32-year-old quarterback remains with the Cincinnati Bengals but a trade could be forthcoming, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported. The answer to that could be clearer after the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bengals are expected to draft Joe Burrow with the top overall pick, something that could displace Dalton.

But there is reason to believe that the Patriots are possibly passing up on Dalton for notable reasons. Though he has been a fixture for the Bengals the past three seasons, his quarterback rating has not gone beyond 90. Some may bat he lacks the supporting the cast but there seems to be lacking on his end, CBS Sports reported.

If Burrow does come on board, Dalton could either slide to backup or be let go. If not the Pats, some other teams could inquire and take a chance on him. But one team that is not in the mix (for now) is the Patriots. With Brady's exit still fresh, it may take more time for the Pats to get their heads together to figure out what to do with the void that the 42-year-old left.

For now, the Pats have Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler as the team's quarterbacks. There is a chance that coach Bill Belichick may try them out first and see if they would suffice. If not, that could be the time when the Pats would need to seriously consider the best available signal-caller in the market. The problem there is they may not have time to spare with multiple NFL teams also prowling for a quarterback.

Perhaps the most extreme scenario would see the Pats undergo a major rebuild. They could try out youngsters and revamp their roster. Stidham and Kessler would get the first crack and probably some guys they can get their hands on at the 2020 NFL Draft. Aside from Burrow, the only notable quarterbacks to consider are Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.