It is that time of the year, where NFL general managers shell out millions of dollars to bring in the best athletes to their team. This year has been quite different compared to previous years; however, the process of free agency has still been a hectic one. Let’s start with a team that has been dominant throughout the last century, the New England Patriots. After releasing Brady and signing Cam Newton, the New England Patriots did not exceed expectations, to put it nicely. After a disappointing season, Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ head office seem to have gone full pedal to the medal in free agency.

About two weeks into free agency, the Patriots have already signed ten free agents. The most notable names include LB Matt Judon, TE Hunter Henry, LB Kyle Van Noy, and TE Jonnu Smith. All of whom are Pro Bowl-caliber players and will undoubtedly play a role in helping the Patriots go back to their former glory. It seems the primary focus of this year’s free agency period is quarterbacks. Big-name quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford and Mitchell Tribusky have been traded to different teams. In addition to this, no quarterback has been stable this year, except for maybe Tom Brady. Besides Brady, every other quarterback has been discussed through multiple news outlets along with various sports shows about being potentially traded. The reason for all this commotion is because of this year’s draft class. The 2021 draft class is stacked with quarterbacks, but how does this affect the free agency?

Why would NFL team owners not decide to keep their quarterback who knows the system well? Keeping in mind that the quarterback is arguably the most critical position on the team, it is a discussion about cost and benefit. Quarterbacks get paid the most, and team owners want to make sure that the money is put to good use. If a quarterback demands top dollar but only performs adequately, they will most likely trade them and try to get a younger quarterback with more potential.

This year’s drafts contain five elite quarterbacks, some of which can even be considered generational talents. It is not a surprise that many NFL team owners are considering trading their quarterback for younger talent. The San Francisco 49ers have already moved up to the third pick for this year after giving up multiple first-round picks, a clear sign that they are trying to obtain an elite quarterback from this year’s draft. In conclusion, it will be interesting to see how this year’s free agency plays out and how it will affect the results of next season.