The One Contract Holding Back the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are kidding themselves if they think Jarrett Stidham is, at this juncture, going to lead this team to the playoffs. Unfortunately, any attempt they could have made in order to get a more experienced quarterback in the room was squashed due to the team's lack of cap space.

Part of the reason New England is in such a rigid situation financially is the fact that they gave a five-year, $50 million deal out to guard Shaq Mason in 2018, and he has yet to play up to that caliber.

Mason picked a really bad time to have one of the worst seasons of his five-year career. The loss of offensive line sage Dante Scarnecchia to retirement might cause Mason's performance to further deteriorate.

The Patriots used two draft picks on offensive linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft, as they added West Virginia offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste in the third round and Arkansas guard Hjalte Froholdt in the fourth round. That investment, plus the return of David Andrews and the persisting theory that Isaiah Wynn might be better suited to guard work instead of tackle duty, should make Mason concerned about the security of his job.

Mason faces a pivotal 2020 season, as thoughts of replacing him, should he once again struggle to keep whomever is under center upright, have to be entertained.