Insider links Patriots with Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo for 2023 season

ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick could look to the past to replace quarterback Mac Jones for at least the 2023 NFL season. 

For a piece published Monday, Barnwell linked the Patriots with Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Tom Brady and injured San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo. 

"The Patriots have to at least call Brady's people to inquire whether he would like to return to New England to finish out his career," Barnwell explained. "It would be uncomfortable to bench Jones for a 45-year-old quarterback who already has one retirement under his belt, but they can't let a dominant defense wait for Jones or (Bailey Zappe) to catch up and improve. They could also pursue Garoppolo, who was traded by New England to the 49ers just before the trade deadline in 2017." 

Brady, of course, was with New England from 2000 through the end of the 2019 season before he signed with the Buccaneers in March 2020. Belichick and the Patriots originally landed Garoppolo via a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. 

Barnwell offered his take less than 24 hours after Jones completed just 13-of-31 passes for 112 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's heartbreaking 30-24 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders that knocked the Patriots (7-7) out of the conference's playoff spots beneath the 8-6 Miami Dolphins and 8-6 Los Angeles Chargers. It was also noted by Barnwell that "Jones has taken a step backward in just about every major statistical category" and has displayed "horrific" body language throughout his second pro season. 

According to ESPN stats, Jones began Monday 29th among qualified quarterbacks with an 82.6 passer rating and 32nd with a 30.7 total QBR on the campaign. In 11 games, he has seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions. 

Assuming Brady wants to continue playing and pursue an eighth championship ring, he presumably would be an upgrade over Jones. The future Hall of Famer is 22nd with a 50.3 total QBR but is also third with 3,897 yards through the air and has 20 touchdown passes in 14 games. Garoppolo went down with a broken foot on Dec. 4 but is still 17th with a 53.7 total QBR. He tallied 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions in fewer than 11 full games before his injury. 

Both Brady and Garoppolo can hit free agency when the new NFL year opens in March 2023. Before Jimmy G suffered his latest setback, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported he and the 49ers were both open to the 31-year-old staying with the franchise for at least one more season. Brady has neither confirmed nor denied he will play beyond the Buccaneers' final contest of the current campaign.