With Tom Brady at the helm, the New England Patriots have been able to put the future of the position on hold for the last decade or so. The last time a Patriots quarterback not named Brady made a significant impact on the team was when Matt Cassel took over for the injured Brady in 2008.

Since then, Cassel left to sign a big contract before his stats strayed far from average. In came former Arkansas product Ryan Mallett, who at 25, may be looking for a starting job in the near future.

So, the question must be asked: Should the Patriots look for a suitable replacement to Brady in this year’s draft?

The Patriots just might be looking for a proper successor to the three-time Super Bowl champion. According to NBCSports.com, the Patriots have held pre-draft visits with incoming quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray and Logan Thomas.

Boston.com also reported that the Patriots looked at Jimmy Garoppolo, Connor Shaw, Kenny Guyton and A.J. McCarron during their respective Pro Days. It looks like the team will be seriously considering drafting a quarterback in the draft.

Let’s look at why:

Last season, Brady threw for 4,343 yards (lowest since 2010), 25 touchdowns (lowest since 2006) and a 60.5 completion percentage (lowest since 2003). The injury to tight end Rob Gronkowski and the Aaron Hernandez situation may have played into these numbers, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that this was, statistically, one of Brady’s worst seasons in over a decade.

Granted, Brady still led his team to the AFC Championship game, where it was outplayed by a stronger Denver Broncos team. However, at 36, his skills should only keep diminishing. It is reasonable to envision Brady playing only three or four more seasons, maybe even less.

With teams getting younger and building, the window for the Belichick-Brady combo to win another Super Bowl may be closing. The Patriots are in the process of revamping the receiving corps around Brady, adding Kenbrell Thompkins (25) and Danny Amendola (28) in 2012 and signing Brandon LaFell (27) this offseason.

Maybe, these receivers who are reaching their respective primes need a quarterback who is at the same stage. Brady is the second-oldest starting in the NFL, behind Peyton Manning, and only two quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl after 36 (John Elway and Johnny Unitas).

Brady is a special quarterback, but he will eventually succumb to the deterioration that comes with age. And, if New England believes that Mallet will look for an opportunity elsewhere, maybe now is the time to find another fitting replacement.

That doesn’t mean that replacement will come in the first, second or third rounds. Remember, the Patriots drafted Brady with pick No. 199 in the sixth round in 2003. This could mean that Belichick and Patriots front office may be patiently when looking for a quarterback, like McCarron or Guyton.

McCarron fits the Patriots’ offensive scheme, being a relatively accurate pocket passer who threw for a 66.9 completion percentage and just 15 intecerptions in four years at Alabama.

However, maybe this is all part of the Patriots plan. It could be a wake-up call to Brady, who, in terms of his pedigree, struggled last season. Who knows what the Patriots have up their sleeve, but life without Brady is slowly approaching them.