The Patriots have twice had the ability to either add or pursue quarterback and 2023 MVP favorite Lamar Jackson and have passed in both instances.

The Patriots could have selected Jackson in the 2018 NFL Draft but instead picked offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel. This offseason, the Ravens slapped the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, allowing other teams to negotiate with their quarterback. The Patriots, nor any other team, ever signed him to an offer sheet, so he returned to the Ravens on a five-year, $260 million contract.

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He’s rewarded the team with stellar play and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the Patriots benched starter Mac Jones and have gone 4-12 this season.

“There’s a lot of things that go on in the offseason,” head coach Bill Belichick said when asked about the Patriots’ lack of pursuit of Jackson on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Tuesday morning. “Each player has his own story. But, look, in Lamar’s case — there was a lot of, I would say, there would have been a lot of moving parts on that one anyway. But you know, I’ll discuss the players that are on the team, not the ones that aren’t on it. I mean, there’s a lot of players out there that were available. They’re always available during the offseason. We talked to some of the players, some of the agents and all that. But those are all … those conversations are on a whole other level. So, stick to the guys that are here.”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said this offseason that rapper Meek Mill had told him that Jackson wanted to join the Patriots. Kraft left that decision up to Belichick.