The New England Patriots had a video call with FIU quarterback James Morgan, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Morgan is considered a mid- to late-round draft prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.
New England recently released quarterback Cody Kessler, which brought their total at the position to two, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. The Patriots drafted Stidham in the fourth-round in the 2019 NFL Draft, and New England signed Hoyer a few days after the team watched Tom Brady depart in free agency. Surely, Bill Belichick wants more competition at the quarterback position. The draft seems like a natural place for the team to add depth and — depending on the round of the draft — perhaps even starting-caliber talent.
Here’s what Reiss wrote about the Patriots:
“One example: League sources say Florida International quarterback James Morgan had a videoconference meeting with the team. Morgan, who grew up in Green Bay and naturally modeled his game after Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre, is an intriguing prospect who scouts say performed well in the East-West Shrine Game.”
The Patriots were among the teams closely vetting Morgan earlier this offseason, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.
New England picks at 23rd overall, and though it doesn’t have a second-round selection, the team is slated to make three third-round picks with four picks in the top 100 selections. It’s possible they could be considering a quarterback in that range to join Hoyer and Stidham for the offseason workouts, if those sessions occur amid the coronavirus pandemic.
