3 quarterbacks the Patriots could pick later in the 2021 Draft
1. Kellen Mond
The Patriots might like the dual-threat ability of Kellen Mond.
If New England were to wait until the third round to draft a quarterback, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond may be the best acquisition. As a happy medium between Kyle Trask and Jamie Newman, Mond put up respectable numbers both rushing and passing in 2020.
In 10 games, he threw for 2,292 yards with 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions. On the ground, he ran for 294 yards and four touchdowns. He may not be a Lamar Jackson, but he has the mobility to breathe a little life into the Patriots offense. A TD/INT ratio of more than 6:1 is also the kind of ball security Belichick likes to see, and if he can be counted on as a dual-threat QB without being turnover-prone, he’s instantly alluring as a potential NFL starter.
There are criticisms of his play that prevent him from being a likely second-round pick, however. He’s inconsistent. He had a couple of ugly games last season (such as an 11-of-34 passing game against LSU) and isn’t all that accurate compared to other guys in the draft. With a tall, athletic frame and good speed, though, Mond has potential to turn into a star under the right coach.
Some have compared him to a young Colin Kaepernick, and I think he seems a lot like what the Green Bay Packers hope Jordan Love turns out to be. The Pats will likely have a couple shots at drafting him from rounds 2-4, so we’ll see if they give him an opportunity.
From the last couple years of drafting, we know it’s impossible to predict when, or if, Belichick will pick a QB. Let’s hope he and the front office can finally put their poor drafting track record behind them, too.
