The New England Patriots surprised many by not taking a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, committing themselves to Jarrett Stidham as their face of the future. While some might question the decision, at least one NFL head coach believes the Patriots are making the right call.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been around plenty of quarterbacks in his coaching career, including Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. While he never got to work with Stidham as a coach, Kingsbury had plenty of great things to say about Stidham from their interactions and seeing him play.
Can Jarrett Stidham replace Tom Brady?
Replacing the greatest quarterback in NFL history is an impossible task, but the talent Stidham brings to the table is undeniable. A five-star recruit out of high school and a projected top-10 pick in 2019 before a down season at Auburn, there’s a reason the Patriots are very high on him.
As the 24-year-old quarterback prepares to enter his first summer as New England’s starting quarterback, Kingsbury explained to WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” why he is also confident in Stidham.
“It is going to be hard to replace the greatest of all time, but Josh (McDaniels) and those guys up there do a phenomenal job of developing QBs and if they feel confident in him, I feel confident in what they have going on,” Kingsbury said, via WEEI (H/T New York Post). “I am excited to watch him play.”
Stidham really couldn’t ask for a better situation to develop. He spent a year watching Tom Brady lead this team, learning the work it takes to be a great starting quarterback in the NFL. As he now prepares to take on that role, also becoming the face of this storied franchise, Bill Belichick and McDaniels will know how to get the most out of him.
Kliff Kingsbury raves about Jarrett Stidham
During his days at Texas Tech, Kingsbury recognized Stidham’s talent immediately. In fact, the five-star quarterback was committed to the school before making a late switch to Baylor.
After spending countless time recruiting Stidham and watching him play in high school, Kingsbury watched him grow at the collegiate level before making it to the NFL. After all these years, Kingsbury has never wavered on Stidham’s ability and believes he is ready for this opportunity with the Patriots.
“Tremendous skill set, great young man,” Kingsbury said, via WEEI. “I am really fired up for him to get his opportunity.”
Kingsbury clearly isn’t the only coach with extreme confidence in Stidham’s abilities. The Patriots scouted him heavily before the 2019 NFL Draft and believed they landed a steal with their fourth-round pick. Now primed to be their starting quarterback, the Patriots expect to win quickly with Stidham.