The New England Patriots’ intentions at quarterback remain something of a mystery as we get past the flurry of big-name free agent signings.
Quarterback Tom Brady left New England and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which left the Patriots with Jarrett Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round pick, and Cody Kessler, a veteran journeyman with some starting experience in Cleveland and Jacksonville. Speculation swirls around what Bill Belichick could do in free agency or by trade. But of course, the 2020 NFL Draft is looming large, too. The Patriots seem to be exploring their options from top to bottom of the 2020 class.
Several teams are closely vetting Florida International quarterback James Morgan ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson. The Patriots are among those teams.
Morgan was excellent in his first two seasons at Bowling Green State before transferring to FIU. In his junior season, he completed 65.3% of his passes for 2,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His senior season, however, was a disappointment. He slumped, with a 58 completion percentage, 2,560 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Though he has impressive physical tools, he would figure to be a developmental project for New England, which might be able to land him on the third day of the draft.
His writeup from NFL.com’s Lance Zuerlein isn’t flattering:
It’s easy to tell that the Green Bay native favors quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers when you watch his tape. Unfortunately, while he has similar zip to the Packer legends, he’s nowhere near as accurate and lacks any semblance of touch. Morgan is very capable of making impressive throws to all areas of the field, but his violent release and inconsistent footwork hinder functional ball placement and accuracy. His lack of pocket mobility and instincts make him too easy for defensive coordinators to assault with a variety of blitz packages. He’s a tough guy with a big arm and the 2018 tape is the one to watch, but QB3 may be his ceiling.
[vertical-gallery id=82493]