The New England Patriots likely will look to draft a quarterback at some point in the 2018 NFL Draft, as they need to groom an heir apparent to take over when Tom Brady calls it a career.
The 2018 draft is littered with quality quarterback prospects, from Josh Rosen to Baker Mayfield to Lamar Jackson, but many of them could be taken before the Pats pick at No. 31. So, that would leave New England looking for an under-the-radar prospect in the later rounds, and NFL Network analyst and former first-round pick David Carr has just the guy.
Carr discussed the Patriots’ plan to draft a quarterback on “NFL Total Access,” noting that Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee should get a look from Bill Belichick and Co.
“He’s bounced around, right?” Carr said of Lee. “Played at Nebraska, Tulane, and the big thing is it’s not a lot of stats with this guy. But his throws were there, the way he carried himself in the pocket was poised.
“And I talked to four or five guys after the (NFL Scouting Combine). I said, ‘Tell me what you guys think?’ They’re like, ‘Tanner Lee is in our top five.’ And every one of those guys had Tanner Lee pegged as a guy … a developing guy for the Patriots. He looks like, when he’s moving, dropping back, I know he’s wearing No. 12, how weird is that?
“Another guy, Tom Brady, that moves around, isn’t going to wow you with his arm ability and all this stuff. But he’s a guy that if they got him in the system and he learned behind Tom Brady for a while, why couldn’t he be like a Brian Hoyer or even better?”
Lee has a monster arm and the ability to throw the deep ball with touch, but his lack of anticipation and timing caused him to end his college career with a touchdown to interception ratio of 46:37, which should be a huge red flag for NFL teams.
The 23-year-old certainly has some talent, but the Patriots might be better served by going in a different direction for Brady’s successor.
