New England Patriots: QB per first 4 rounds of 2021 NFL Draft to target
By Cory Kinnan
Could the New England Patriots land a new quarterback in the draft?
The New England Patriots are making their way through unchartered territory as they navigate a losing record for the first time in over a decade. After the departure of Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Patriots signed Cam Newton to fill the void under center. While Newton has been good, he has been inconsistent as well.
As he plays out the rest of his one-year deal in Foxboro, head coach Bill Belichick has a huge decision to make: does he bring Newton back or does he look elsewhere for the leader of his franchise?
Should they opt to take a new quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, here are four different options, one per the first four rounds of the draft.
Round 1: Zach Wilson, BYU
If he happens to be on the board with the Patriots come on the clock, and if they decide to move on from Newton, their top option will be BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. With Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields likely already off the board, there is a chance either Wilson or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance will be on the board.
This writer still thinks Lance is the third best quarterback in this year’s draft class, leaving Wilson as the guy most likely to fall out of the top-10 this upcoming April. From a flyer this summer to about as surefire of a first round prospect as they come, Wilson has been a historic riser this year for the Cougars.
Thus far in the 2020 season, Wilson has racked up 2,724 yards passing, with 26 touchdowns and two interceptions on the year. He has added another 191 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the ground as well. If he falls into their laps, the Patriots must pounce on Wilson this upcoming April.