Patriots Rumors: Latest Buzz on Andy Dalton Trade, Stephon Gilmore, Brian Hoyer

The biggest question surrounding the New England Patriots this offseason—and arguably the most pressing question in the NFL—was who would be under center for Bill Belichick when the 2020 season began. Tom Brady answered that on Friday. It won't be him.

With the departure of Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, New England not only loses the greatest player in team history but also the one player it wasn't prepared to replace. His successor looked set to be Jimmy Garoppolo, but Belichick begrudgingly traded him to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, despite reportedly offering Brady to the 49ers first.

Now the team is left without a veteran contingency plan, instead looking at the possibility of starting second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who completed a total of two passes last season. It would be shocking to see Belichick put his team's offense in Stidham's hands, but there have yet to be any serious signs that the team is set to acquire another signal-caller.

Dalton Available but Not in New England's Plans

With his time with the Cincinnati Bengals looking like it's running out given the team appears set to draft its new franchise quarterback in April, Andy Dalton has seemed like a logical trade candidate for New England. At 32, he's not far past his prime, and the three-time Pro Bowler can still sling it, throwing for nearly 3,500 yards in 13 games last season.

But according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, Dalton isn't seen as a serious option by folks in New England. That's not to say it's completely out of the realm of possibility, especially if Belichick could get him without giving up significant draft capital, but it doesn't seem like we will see Dalton in a Pats jersey anytime soon.

Hoyer Interested in a Return

Another possible candidate, and seemingly a more likely option, would be ex-Patriot Brian Hoyer. The 34-year old has done three separate stints as a backup in New England, once from 2009 to 2011, again in 2017 and once more in 2018. He attempted just 51 passes in a Patriots uniform over those five seasons, but he provides an experienced backup presence if Stidham is injured or doesn't pan out as a starter.

According to Howe, Hoyer is open to returning to Foxborough, Massachusetts, in a backup role. Howe also said the team intended to bring him back last season once its roster got settled, but he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts instead. Signing Hoyer, while prudent for the time being, would signal to the rest of the league that the team is set on Stidham and, therefore, rebuilding rather than retooling and making another playoff run.

Gilmore a Potential Trade Candidate?

A move that seems unlikely, especially given Brady's departure, would be New England opting to trade 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. But according to the Boston Globe's Ben Volin, it's something to keep an eye on as we head into the summer.

The 29-year-old, who has been a first-team All-Pro the past two seasons and picked off a career-high six passes in 2019, will likely be looking for a contract extension—and a raise—very soon. His $13 million-per-year deal ranks 10th among cornerbacks, but he has a strong case to be the highest-paid defensive back in the league, which would put him in the $17 million range.

Belichick, as shrewd of a coach/front office executive as we have seen in the NFL, has never been afraid to let a star player walk if he felt like it would cost the team too much to keep them. If New England does look to trade Gilmore, it likely won't be before April's draft.

A deal before June 1 would only save the team $3.3 million because of the dead space it would create, while a deal after that deadline would save the team $11 million and could net it some nice draft capital to continue its rebuild in 2021.

Follow Keegan on Twitter, @ByKeeganPope.