The New England Patriots are without a surefire starting quarterback for the first time in two decades. What quarterbacks should they target in the draft?
With the departure of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, the New England Patriots find themselves in an unfamiliar situation of not knowing who their starting quarterback will be when the 2020 season kicks off.
Publicly, the team has anointed 2019 rookie Jarrett Stidham the heir apparent to the now departed GOAT. The team has also brought back long time veteran backup quarterback Brian Hoyer to provide some insurance for the team.
Despite these two signal-callers on the roster, most believe that the Patriots will seek a quarterback in the the 2020 NFL Draft. If that’s the case, what options might the team have?
As per standard operating procedure, the Patriots have a bevy of draft picks and are likely to use them to move up and down the draft board to acquire the talents they covet.
If the Patriots decide to target a second round quarterback, they could go with:
#3 – Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners warms up before the game against the LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
While without a second round pick, the Patriots could easily pair their third-round selections in order to trade in to the second and secure their quarterback of the future.
If the team were to do that, targeting Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts may be the correct direction to take. The two time Heisman trophy finalist has played in a slew of big games during his college years at both Alabama, and last year with Oklahoma. That experience is sure to be coveted by the Patriots and head coach Bill Belicheck.
Hurts has a big arm and excellent athleticism which couple to make him a true dual threat quarterback in the same mold of reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. At 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, Hurts is also big enough to take the hits at the NFL level and not only stay on his feet, but stay healthy too.
Hurts may need a year to develop, but as the Patriots start to rebuild in life after Tom, they have time to be patient with the Big 12 Player of the Year. Hurts would make an excellent second-round target for New England.