The Quest for 7: WR options, NFL change coming, Brady still has IT, Links 2.20.20

Morning! Welcome to The Quest for 7, where volunteer writer, Steven Viner, scours the net for seven Patriots related articles from other sites offering different points of view on the six-time champs. Paid subscribers not only get to read all seven, but they also get to check out his always fiery "Steve's Soapbox" at the end.

1. There's rioting in the streets amongst Patriots fans over the need for an outside wide receiver, and Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal's column lets us know if there are any fits via free agency and trade. After last year's struggles with the position, hopefully Bill Belichick agrees.

2. Load up on water and non-perishable foods before running to your underground bunker, because this disaster is coming. Brad Gagnon of the Comeback gives his Five reasons why a 17-game NFL season would suck, and I can tell you this, I couldn't agree more. Rumors are swirling that the secret CBA meetings are already taking place, so get your CB radios and candles ready.

3. I basically never include another team's story in The Quest, but with New England's subpar drafting as of late, I felt it necessary to show why this needs to change. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated rubs it in Pats fan's faces that a few great drafts have made it easier for the Saints to sign Brees. At this point, I don't care if Belichick and Caserio stop at a CVS for a draft magazine and wing it. Their system needs change.

4. Rumors linking this player to the Patriots before last year's trade deadline became pretty hot and heavy. Once again, it's time to rekindle the fire and dim the lights. Doug Kyed of NESN uses lipstick to draw up a plan on the mirror and figure out how the Patriots could offset Stefon Diggs' cap hit in a potential trade. Come on Belichick, seduce those Vikings!

5. As obvious as a pimple on Pinocchio's nose, last year's Patriots had a dire need for more beef on the defensive line against the run. Matt Dolloff of 98.5 The Sports Hub compiled a list that shows Belichick has a truckload of truck-sized options to improve his defensive line. Some of those run-blocking holes created against New England's defense were so big, Sony Michel might have found one.

6. Chris Ransom of Draft Utopia gives us three rounds of predictions for his 2020 NFL mock draft. (For some reason, these mocks never include compensatory picks. Frustrating.) As a little bonus to get you in the draft mood, Matt Dussault of Patriots.com put together the All-time best Patriots combine performances.

7. This is how you transform yourself from a scrawny kid with little NFL-level talent, into the greatest of all time: always carry a chip on your shoulder, and add weight to it constantly. Chris Rosvoglou of The Spun warns the doubters that Tom Brady has a blunt offseason message for his critics. I'm no psychologist, but like I wrote in last Friday's Soapbox, the man is not normal. He is a ...

STEVE'S SOAPBOX

The place where Steve gets to give his take of the day from the perspective of a Patriots fan.

Alright. I'll go all Steve-Viner-Armageddon-Apocalypse. Let's say Brady leaves. The way I see it, Belichick has two options. Which scenario would you choose?

Scenario A.) Go for a longshot Super Bowl. How? First, use the cap space to bring the entire defense back. Second, piece together the offense through cheap free agents and the draft, (oh and maybe play the fifty players you've redshirted over the past few years?) Third, hope Stidham can be 80% of what Brady was in 2001. If the Hoodie can somehow get the offensive line back to dominant run-blocking like in 2018, and his defense goes from really good, to historic, they can mimic the 2015 Broncos, 2000 Ravens, and 2002 Buccaneers...Super Bowl winners with average offenses and epic defenses. The problem? If Belichick fails, he's potentially setting the team back a year or two: The 2020 year he would have just wasted, 2021 to gut the thing and start a new foundation, (this could take 2 seasons) 2022 to use the 100+ million in cap space to add high-priced talent and get some playoff experience, and in 2023 or 2024, hopefully the Pats are back in the big game.

Scenario B.) Gut it now, use your top pick in the draft on a QB to battle Stidham, and get your foundation year out of the way. This offseason, trade any asset over 28-years-old for picks, (Gilmore would have to stay due to his huge dead-cap hit.) Sony Michel? If a team offered Belichick a 3rd round pick, I'd personally carry Sony to the airport while opening holes for him to get on the plane because we all know he'd miss his flight without them. Otherwise, keep the rest of the young-ins. To help rebuild the culture, sign cheap veterans to one or two-year deals who won't kill your cap if released. Hopefully the Pats are back in the big game in 2022 or 2023.

My choice? Give me A. I want as many shots at the big one as possible. (Which is why I really want Brady back.)

Be on the lookout for more The Quest for 7 features. Want extra Salty Tears and Soapbox? Click on my name above and scroll down for previous Quests!