Patriots: 8 Potential first-round picks who don’t play quarterback

At this point, given the issues New England has had at quarterback since Tom Brady left, many have assumed that the Patriots will use their first-round draft pick on a quarterback. Unfortunately, there are just two issues with that.

The first problem is that the Patriots have a lot more issues on their roster than quarterback. There is almost no talent at the skill positions, Stephon Gilmore is likely on the move, and the players who opted out may not be coming back. The second issue is that the Patriots don’t draft until the middle of the first round, and there may not be a quarterback worth taking then. Certainly, the can’t-miss prospects will be off the board, and there could very well be a dearth of good options by the middle of the first round.

So, realistically, the Patriots need to be aware of their options at other positions to draft in this year’s first round. Luckily, there should be several strong options who the Patriots have to choose from. Will they correct last season’s wrong, and draft a wide receiver in the first round? Will they look for a new defensive standout to build around, or will it come down to rebuilding the offensive line?

There are plenty of great players who could become the face of a franchise in this year’s draft. Just because the talented QBs may be gone by 15 doesn’t mean that the Patriots won’t be able to make a great pick in the first round this season.

So, here are a few options to draft in the first round who don’t play quarterback.