The New England Patriots might have found their future starting quarterback.
The Patriots are “incredibly high” on Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage, DraftInsider.net’s Tony Pauline reported Monday. Savage, not surprisingly, started his career at Rutgers before transferring to Arizona, then Pittsburgh.
Savage lost his starting role at Rutgers under head coach Greg Schiano, leading to his decision to transfer. Savage impressed Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Schiano at the NFL Scouting Combine in February during the interview process, when he took full responsibility for leaving the program, Pauline reported.
Savage completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2.958 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions with the Panthers in 2013.
Savage was considered by the media as a seventh-round pick early in the pre-draft process, but he since has moved up draft boards into the first or second round. The Patriots might need to use their No. 29 overall pick or trade down early into the second round to select Savage.
Pauline also reports the Patriots are interested in California tight end Richard Rodgers, who went to high school at St. John’s of Shrewsbury, just outside of Worcester, Mass. Rodgers caught 39 passes for 608 yards and a touchdowns in 2013. He ran the 40-yard dash at his pro day in 4.82 seconds. He ran a 7.23-second three-cone drill and 4.47-second short shuttle at the combine.
