2020 NFL Draft: Odds against Patriots selecting quarterback in first round Thursday
One big question about Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday is if the Patriots will draft Tom Brady's long-term replacement.
After losing Tom Brady in free agency to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots might now have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Bill Belichick has two signal-callers on the roster: Second-year Jarrett Stidham, who has attempted all of four regular-season passes, and veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer. He's 16-22 in his career as a starter.
Thus, one of the biggest story lines of Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night is whether the Patriots will take a quarterback. William Hill sportsbook offers a prop for that round only with no a -150 favorite (wager $150 to win $100) and yes +130 ($100 wager returns $130).
The Patriots' first-round pick is 23rd, although they have plenty of later picks as ammunition to move up. Joe Burrow is going No. 1 to Cincinnati and the Bengals aren't dealing that pick. New England surely would have to move WAY up to get either Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon's Justin Herbert. Tua has an Over-Under draft position of 3.5 and Herbert 5.5.
It's possible that Utah State's Jordan Love could be there at No. 23 as he's given an Over-Under draft position of 19.5, with the Over a -170 favorite. Some scouts are enamored of Love, while others point out his huge regression in 2019 and FBS-leading 17 picks.
After Love, there's a big drop-off to guys like Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts, Washington's Jacob Eason and Georgia's Jake Fromm. One guy the Pats are reportedly interested in is Florida International's James Morgan, but there are no prop options on him as he's a likely Day 3 selection. He's ranked as the No. 171 player overall on the CBS Sports Big Board and the No. 8 quarterback.
The last quarterback taken as early as Round 3 by Belichick was NC State's Jacoby Brissett in 2016 and he of course was eventually traded to Indianapolis. The Pats haven't taken a quarterback in Round 1 since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.
NFL pick: No on QB in first round for Patriots