Previewing this year’s quarterback class ahead of the draft.
With less than three weeks until the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their board. What that board will look like is, of course, a closely-guarded secret. However, it would not be a surprise to find some quarterbacks on it even with 2024 first-round draft pick locked into the starting role.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for New England at the position.
Patriots’ current quarterback situation
The aforementioned Drake Maye is the Patriots’ undisputed QB1 and somebody the team is quite high on. For good reason: not only was she drafted third overall a year ago, he also showed some intriguing flashes during his rookie season. Time will tell how well he will adapt to working under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but Maye is who the team will continue to build around.
While there are no questions about the top of the food chain at quarterback, the depth behind Maye was recently brought into the spotlight. Following the trade that sent Joe Milton to Dallas, veteran free agency pickup Joshua Dobbs remains as the only other QB on the roster. The Patriots adding at least one more passer before training camp seems like a foregone conclusion.
Patriots NFL Draft fits at quarterback
Tyler Shough (Louisville): There has been some hype around Shough lately, which might just allow him to sneak into Day 2 (and out of New England’s probable comfort zone). If he is still on the board in the fourth round or later, tough, he is a player to watch. Yes, he is 25. Yes, he has an injury history. But he also combines an NFL arm with good size and baseline athleticism — making him a good fit for the Patriots. | Consensus big board: No. 98
Kyle McCord (Syracuse): Statistically, McCord was among the most productive quarterback in college football last season. So, why is he expected to be available on Day 3 of the draft? He lacks any truly outstanding traits and has the gunslinger gene in him resulting in some head-scratching decisions. However, his adequate size and success as a starter might still make him an appealing backup option for the Patriots. | Consensus big board: No. 119
Riley Leonard (Notre Dame): Leonard has a dual-threat element to his game, which should mesh well with what the Patriots currently have on their roster. While his arm is nowhere near that of Drake Maye, he is a player well-suited to back up New England’s QB1 and has played promising football both at Duke and Notre Dame. | Consensus big board: No. 173
Kurtis Rourke (Indiana): One of the most experienced quarterbacks in the draft, Rourke is a six-year senior after spending fix seasons at Ohio followed by one in Indiana. Along the way, he completed a high volume of his pass attempts (67.1%) and showed that he can advance the ball with his feet as well. He falls in a similar category as Riley Leonard, but with more uncertainty about his ceiling. | Consensus big board: No. 230
Seth Henigan (Memphis): A starter each of his four seasons at Memphis, Henigan is a raw player in a lot of respects but has some promising tools to work with. He is generally accurate, sees the field quite well, and has shown he can attack all levels of a defense. Is he a future starter in the NFL? Probably not, but he is a developmental backup who checks plenty of boxes for a Josh McDaniels QB. | Consensus big board: No. 297
In addition to those players, some projected rookie free agents are also worth keeping an eye on. The Patriots have had reported pre-draft contact with three of those: Jordan Cloud (Texas State), Jake Willcox (Brown) and Seth Morgan (New Hampshire).