When Tom Brady left the New England Patriots last offseason, the team did not have a clear-cut replacement on the roster. Second-year man Jarrett Stidham appeared to initially be the front runner, and he was later joined by veteran free agent Brian Hoyer as well as rookie free agents Brian Lewerke and J’Mar Smith.
The arrival of Cam Newton a month before training camp changed everything. The former league MVP, who had been released by the Carolina Panthers earlier that offseason, joined the Patriots on a one-year contract. While he was not guaranteed the starting spot upon his arrival, he very much established himself as the frontrunner early into camp and never looked back.