The New England Patriots are expected to take a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, but what if they instead opt to search for their next QB in free agency?

That is exactly the intriguing proposition Cody Benjamin on CBS Sports made in his latest “free agency mock draft,” sharing that Kirk Cousins could be an interesting choice for a New England team looking to contend quickly in the post-Bill Belichick era.

Kirk Cousins To New England Patriots?

With Mac Jones unlikely to be the Patriots’ starting QB in 2024 after struggling in his first three years with the team, New England now has to look elsewhere for their main man under center.

With the no. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft, they could end up taking Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye depending on who the Washington Commanders select at no. 2. The general consensus is the Pats will be selecting their quarterback of the future in the annual rookie selection.

Nonetheless, Benjamin noted in his recent piece that the Patriots might want to add a proven quarterback to lead the start of the Jerod Mayo era in New England. With that said, Cousins might be the player they need.

While Cousins is coming from an Achilles injury, he’s still rated as the best free agent quarterback in the class.

Here’s what Benjamin wrote:

“Hold onto your hats. While drafting a QB feels more likely (and smarter), who’s to say Jerod Mayo, Robert Kraft and Co. wouldn’t prefer a more proven technician, if given the chance to “burn some cash” on Cousins? In reality, of course, Cousins might be hesitant to join such a rebuilding organization, but New England’s still got a historic reputation and reliable defense.”

Of course it remains to be seen if Cousins will actually want to join the Patriots. As noted, New England is rebuilding and there’s just too much uncertainty surrounding them.

Nonetheless, Cousins could also see it as a challenge to prove that he can still lead a team and he still has plenty of gas left in his tank.

Kirk Cousins’ Projected Contract

If the New England Patriots are to make a move for Kirk Cousins, however, they will have to be ready to splurge.

According to the latest projections, Cousins is expected to command at least $51 million per season. His market value at Spotrac is a bit lower at $39.3 million per season, but the point remains: acquiring him will be costly.

The Patriots could have other options at quarterback if they end up using their third pick in the draft on a different player. Russell Wilson has been largely linked with them, as well as young QB Justin Fields.

With that being said, it will definitely be interesting to see how they address their QB situation this offseason.