The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the New England Patriots are probably going to invest in a quarterback. Jarrett Stidham is currently the top quarterback on the depth chart, and the former fourth-round pick only has four career pass attempts to his name. Even when Tom Brady was around, the Patriots still added a quarterback in most of their drafts. There are several interesting passers that should be available throughout the draft, so let’s take a look at some of the Patriots quarterback options.
2020 NFL Draft: New England Patriots Quarterback Options
Early Round Patriots Quarterback Options
Jordan Love [NFL Draft Profile]
For the sake of this exercise, let’s assume that Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert are off the board when the Patriots are on the clock. If you’re going by upside alone, Jordan Love is the best quarterback left on the board. Love has the ideal arm, build, and confidence from the position and can deliver strikes all over the field when he has protection. However, when protection fails, he becomes careless with the ball and throws way too many dangerous passes. In many ways, he’s a lot like Jameis Winston. If Bill Belichick believes he can coach away the bad decisions, then he could be a worthy first-round pick.
Jacob Eason [NFL Draft Profile]
Jacob Eason is basically a worse version of Jordan Love. While I personally don’t like him as a prospect, most experts expect him to come off the board late in the first round or early in the second. Just like Love, Eason has the arm but falls apart under pressure. However, unlike Love, Eason isn’t nearly as good on a throw-for-throw basis. While you can find some pretty highlights, the consistency and pocket presence just aren’t there. He shouldn’t be the pick at 23, but he could be an option if the Patriots trade back into the second round.
Mid Round Patriots Quarterback Options
Jalen Hurts [NFL Draft Profile]
Going from Tom Brady to Jalen Hurts would be one of the most dramatic swings in quarterback style imaginable. While Brady became a legend due to his quick processing ability, Hurts is more of an athlete in the mold of Lamar Jackson. While he’s not nearly as athletic as the reigning MVP (nobody is), Hurts brings a similar excitement to his game. He knows how to buy time with his legs and destroy defenses on the ground when the pass isn’t there. However, his mobility can be a double-edged sword, as he sometimes trusts himself too much and ends up putting the ball in harms’ way. Additionally, Hurts struggles to read a defense and isn’t the most accurate passer. He’s an interesting project that would make the offense fun, if nothing else.
Jake Fromm [NFL Draft Profile]
Jake Fromm might not have the highest ceiling, but he has one of the safest floors in this draft. The Georgia product excels at reading a defense and knowing where the ball should go before the snap. He’s never going to be an elite quarterback, but he could be a top 15-20 starter in the right system. Georgia’s uninspiring coaches and underwhelming playmakers did him no favors last year, and he should be more productive with a better supporting cast. The biggest issue is his arm, as it clearly leaves something to be desired. However, you could do a lot worse than Fromm in the back part of the third.
Anthony Gordon [NFL Draft Profile]
Anthony Gordon only has one year of starting experience, but he set the world on fire during his time on the field. Averaging over 400 yards per game, Gordon’s quick release and ability to lead receivers make him one of the most interesting late-round prospects on the board. Additionally, he can read a defense at a decent level and should only improve with experience. While his lack of starter reps are concerning, he’s worth a fourth-round dart throw to see if he turns into something.
Late Round
Kevin Davidson
Princeton’s Kevin Davidson lit up his competition in 2019, but he faced a laughably easy schedule. Facing off against Ivy League competition, Davidson completed 66.5% of his passes for 2,574 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He has a decent arm but faces one of the biggest jumps in competition of any quarterback heading into the NFL. Additionally, his pocket awareness leaves a lot to be desired and could be an issue at the next level. Still, he has a few traits that justify a late-round pick.
Josh Love [NFL Draft Profile]
Speaking of players that dominated against inferior competition, San Jose State’s Josh Love is an undervalued guy that does all the little things right. He knows how to read a defense, throw with touch, and gets the ball out quickly. His underwhelming arm probably means he’ll never be more than a backup, and he’s going to have a tough time adjusting to NFL competition. However, this would be another solid late-round pickup for a team hoping to find a diamond in the rough.
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