The Patriots’ plan at quarterback for the 2020 NFL season remains a mystery.
The latest noise is that Bill Belichick is just fine with rolling out longtime backup Brian Hoyer in Week 1. But we’ve also heard endless chatter that the Patriots are enamored with 2019 fourth round draft pick Jarrett Stidham.
Then there is the real possibility that the Pats will add a third QB to the mix by drafting one this week at the NFL Draft.
There are a number of intriguing quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, including Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa seems like a textbook Belichick value pick given that his stock dropped following a devastating hip injury last fall. Belichick’s connection with Alabama head coach Nick Saban also factors in as the Patriots head coach has never been shy about scooping up players that played in Saban’s system.
Here is a look at Tagovailoa draft specials right now at DraftKings Online Sportsbook Massachusetts.
Tagovailoa team odds
Miami Dolphins +150
LA Chargers +175
Jacksonville Jaguars +500
Las Vegas Raiders +1000
Detroit Lions +1400
Carolina Panthers +2500
New England Patriots +2500
Cincinnati Bengals +3300
Green Bay Packers +3300
New Orleans Saints +3300
Washington Redskins +3300
Atlanta Falcons +5000
Dallas Cowboys +5000
Patriots would need to trade up
Three out of the four major draft analysts at NFL.com currently have Tagovailoa going to the Chargers at No. 6. Bucky Brooks is the only holdout, as he has Tagovailoa slotted at No. 9 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots currently have the No. 23 overall pick in the first round and do not have a second round pick.
NBC Sports writer Peter King predicted this week that the Patriots could trade up to nab Tagovailoa.
“So Tagovailoa could drop, and Bill Belichick really doesn’t want to take a quarterback now, with one draft pick in the top 85 this year and needs all over his roster,” King wrote. “And truly, I have no indication, no inside information, that says he’d do this. It’s simply a guess. But think if you’re Belichick. Because your team never finishes 3-13, you never have a chance to get one of the best quarterbacks in the college game. Until Tagovailoa’s hip popped out of the socket last November, forcing immediate and urgent surgery, he was 1 or 1A with the transcendent Joe Burrow to be the first pick in this draft. And you don’t want to pillage the lone first or lone second-round pick from next year’s draft. But do you do it for a great but pockmarked talent such as Tagovailoa five months after major hip surgery? I do know Belichick would have confidence in his player-procurement skills.
“Tough call for a franchise, but when would the Patriots ever get a shot at a potential superstar quarterback? Even if they had to throw in next year’s first-rounder, I think this would be a risk worth taking for the Patriots.”
Other options at QB
The Patriots are also one of the favorites to land Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. FanDuel Sportsbook Massachusetts currently has the Pats at +1100 to pick Herbert. Only the Dolphins (-125) and Chargers (+140) have lower odds.
Quarterback Jordan Love is another legit possibility for the Patriots as FanDuel has them at +600 to draft the Utah State product.
