Patriots quietly circling quarterback prospects most fans haven’t noticed yet

Following the release of 2025 backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, the New England Patriots will almost certainly acquire another signal caller prior to the commencement of training camp.

While last year’s third-stringer, Tommy DeVito, currently appears to have an inside track on the number two job next year after getting a new contract earlier this offseason, the team will still want to bring in another arm.

Addressing this need by adding an incoming rookie likely makes the most sense for the Patriots, giving them a low-cost emergency depth option to develop behind DeVito and starter Drake Maye.

New England has been scouting several different quarterback prospects, one of whom could end up being the team's pick in the later rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft to fill that vacant role.

QB prospects the Patriots have shown interest in

Cole Payton, North Dakota State

After spending the last three years as a backup, Cole Payton took over as the starting quarterback for North Dakota State in 2025, going on to have a record-setting campaign in which he recorded program highs in pass efficiency (193.8), yards per pass attempt (12.1), and total offense per game (268.9).

During his final collegiate football season, Payton tallied 162 completions on 225 passing attempts (72.0%) for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions, while gaining 777 yards and 13 scores on 136 carries.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the 2025 FCS second-team All-American ranked as the sixth best quarterback prospect on his latest big board and NFL Next Gen Stats gave him their fifth best total score (74) out of signal callers in this class.

Measuring in at 6'3" and 232 lbs, Payton is an impressive athlete who actually started a game at running back for the Bisons in 2024, and clocked the third fastest 40-yard dash time (4.56) among quarterbacks at the NFL Combine.

He also earned a 9.8 Relative Athletic Score out of a possible 10.00, ranking 15th out of 1,111 QB prospects from 1987 to 2026.

Positives on Payton's prospect profile include above-average placement on deep throws down the sideline, an ability to create winning plays under duress, and how he excels as a runner who can hurt defenses with his legs. However, some of the negatives include his subpar passing mechanics, struggles dissecting zone coverage, and a lack of velocity on tight throws.

New England met with the dual-threat QB at his pro day, as experts expect Payton to go in the fourth or fifth round of the draft.

Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

Sawyer Robertson had the most productive season of his college football career at Baylor in 2025, helping him finish as the program's fourth all-time leader in passing yards (7,616), passing touchdowns (61), and total offense (7,932).

Last season, he posted 304 completions (career high, led conference) on 504 pass attempts (60.3%), throwing for 3,681 yards (career high, led conference) and 31 touchdowns (career high, led conference) against 12 picks on his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Robertson added three more scores to his stat line on the ground, but only gained 17 rushing yards on 56 carries, using his legs much less frequently than in 2024 when he had 230 yards and four touchdowns on 63 carries.

Robertson earned an NFL Next Gen Stats production score of 66 (ninth among incoming rookie signal callers), scored a 9.73 Relative Athletic Score (placing 31st out of 1,111 QB prospects from 1987 to 2026), and was rated by Kiper as the 10th best player at his position in this class.

Standing 6’ 4’’ and 216 lbs, draft analysts say he can make all the throws, has a quick release, and showcases enough velocity on his throws to fit the ball into tight windows. However, concerns include a habit of rushing throws, inconsistencies on deep balls, and placement struggles on anticipatory passes.

The Patriots had a virtual meeting with Robertson, who is expected to be selected in either the sixth or seventh round.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

In 2025, Haynes King became just the fourth player in Georgia Tech program history to win both the ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards in the same season, and only the eighth Yellow Jacket (third in the last 47 years) to finish in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting.

King completed 252 of 361 passing attempts (69.8%) for 2,951 yards and 14 touchdowns against 6 interceptions last season, while also taking 185 carries for 953 rushing yards and 15 scores. Those totals made him the second FBS player since 1956 with at least 2,900 passing yards, 900 rushing yards, a 69% completion percentage, and 15 rushing touchdowns in a single season, joining Jalen Hurts, who accomplished the same feat with Oklahoma in 2019.

NFL Next Gen Stats gave the 6'2", 212 lbs gunslinger a 91 athleticism score and a 72 total score, the second and seventh best marks respectively among quarterback prospects in the 2026 class. Meanwhile, the 4.46 40-yard dash King ran at the NFL Combine clocked in as the second fastest time at his position.

Scouting reports praise the 2025 first-team All-ACC selection for what he can do as a ball carrier, including his ability to pick up tough yards on the ground and extend plays with his legs, but also criticize the accuracy and ball placement he's displayed in the passing game. New England met with King, currently projected as a seventh-round pick, at his pro day.

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

Jalon Daniels wrapped up his tenure at Kansas as the program's second all-time leader in career passing yards (9,282), passing touchdowns (67), pass attempts (1,194), and pass completions (734), while also tying for the most career rushing touchdowns by a Jayhawks quarterback (23).

During the 2025 campaign, the 6’1”, 219 lbs signal caller connected on 198 out of 319 passing attempts (62.1%) for 2,531 yards and 22 touchdowns against seven picks, while picking up 404 rushing yards and four scores on 117 carries.

The first four-time team captain in school history, last year, Daniels was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (also referred to as the Academic Heisman) last year and earned NFL Next Gen Stats' fifth-best athleticism score (78) among QBs in the 2026 class.

Evaluators note he can move the sticks as a scrambler, escape from the pocket to extend plays, and has enough arm talent to push the ball downfield, although they also say Daniels will force throws at times, can get sloppy with his footwork, has accuracy issues on some timing passes, and fails to connect on passes while on the run at a high level.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots hosted Daniels on a Top-30 visit, with the team potentially eyeing the 2022 All-Big 12 second-team member as a late-round pick or priority UDFA if he goes unselected in the draft, as some experts anticipate he might.

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