Did The Jets Steal Belichick's Quarterback?

On Saturday April 25, 2020 Nick Caserio said "We're going to have a third quarterback on our roster, pair them up with Jarrett and Brian. There's still some players I think that have a possibility ending up on this team. We have the picks sort of spread out [Saturday]. There's different ways that you can get the players on your team." This was during a video call.

Mike Reiss wrote an article titled Patriots' Bill Belichick says not drafting a quarterback  "wasn't by design".

Reiss quoted Belichick "If we feel like we find the right situation, we'll certainly draft them. We've drafted them in multiple years, multiple points in the draft," he said. "Didn't work out the last three days. That wasn't by design. We just tried to do the best we could with what we had this weekend."

If not by design, what do we know?  While many names circulated, The Patriots were reportedly interested in two quarterbacks in the draft. Tua Tagovailoa who went 5th overall in the first and the second was James Morgan at 125. After Tua was drafted the Patriots ignored all other quarterbacks, then stated they were taking a quarterback on day 3. 

To be fair Jacob Eason was also drafted before the Patriots picked in the fifth round but the difference is, the Patriots didn't appear to have the same interest level as they did with Morgan.

Mike Reiss reported that "the Patriots held a video-conference meeting with Florida International quarterback James Morgan ahead of the 2020 NFL draft."

There was a lot of talk that the Patriots were enthralled with Morgan. Mike Reiss was one of many who wrote an article about it.

With Belichick not taking any of the available quarterbacks after Morgan, it is highly likely that the Patriots planned on taking him with the 159th pick. Instead the Patriots drafted a Kicker who CBS had ranked the 8th best in the draft. A kicker who was viewed as a likely undrafted free agent prospect. 

The Patriots don't like to let a lot of information out. With the coronavirus, it was kinda hard for teams to keep things quiet. Everyone knew about the Morgan conference call and that may have exposed Belichick's Hand. If not a taking a quarterback was not by design, and they passed on all other quarterbacks after Morgan was taken, what's that say?

The Patriots are very Tight lipped so it's doubtful we'll get a direct answer. For now it appears, the Jets beat the Patriots to their man.