Compensatory picks could help Patriots land quarterback of the future

The Patriots’ assortment of compensatory picks could help them find their QB of the future.

Fans in New England are probably torn about whether they want the Patriots to go undefeated the rest of the way and make the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season or lose as many games as possible to ensure they get a stud in next year’s draft.

Regardless of what side you fall on, the latest mock drafts have them nabbing Florida star Kyle Pitts, who is arguably the most physically-gifted pass-catcher in the 2021 class, in the middle of the first-round. Given the Patriots’ glaring need to upgrade the wide receiver and tight end positions, we honestly couldn’t think of a better pick for them.

We know the Patriots still need to determine if they will re-sign Cam Newton to be the starter for another season or two, but that shouldn’t stop them from drafting a quarterback in the middle rounds. After all, they will be flush with compensatory picks following the departures of Tom Brady, Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy in free agency last offseason.

Either that, or perhaps all of these picks can be packaged to move up in the first round to make a more significant move.

As thing stand, the Patriots have picks in the first, second, fourth, sixth (two) and seventh rounds next April. They can also expect to receive one third-round compensatory pick and two-fourth round compensatory picks for losing the aforementioned trio in free agency.

Assuming the Patriots’ first two selections are used on playmakers on either side of the ball –better be on offense — they can draft a quarterback with ANY one of their remaining eight (!) selections.

We know, the consensus top QB prospects are all projected to be off the board by the middle of the first round, but what about the likes of Kyle Trask (Florida), Mac Jones (Alabama) Jamie Newman (Georgia) or Shane Buechele (SMU)?  We don’t see a problem with the Patriots using a second-rounder or later on any of them.

Perhaps moving up for North Dakota State’s Trey Lance could be an option. Additionally, Ohio State’s Justin Fields’ stock is slowing falling due to a some unsightly performances so far this season. Maybe he could be more attainable if he drops out of the top-10.

And for the fans itching to know what the Patriots have in Jarrett Stidham, what more do you need to see? The 2019 fourth-round pick emerged from the supposed quarterback competition at training camp as the third-stringer, which is a step below from the backup job he won last season, and hasn’t proven to fix his turnover issue — he’s thrown three interceptions on just 23 pass attempts in two appearances off the bench.

With growing uncertainty about Newton’s future and Stidham seemingly blowing any chance he had at becoming the starter, there’s really no reason for the Patriots not to use one of their compensatory picks (or package them) to get their hands on a quarterback in 2021.

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