What to expect if the Patriots don't take a quarterback on day one.

There is a lot of pressure on Bill Belichick to get a quarterback coming from Patriots owner Robert Kraft. There is also pressure for Belichick to get marquise players during the first three rounds from Kraft. So it's not out of the possibility that the Patriots don't trade up or take a quarterback on day one. What does that mean?

There's a couple of things. The first is that they were getting overcharged to trade up. Although they need a quarterback, Kraft made it clear that he cannot keep bailing the team out in free agency. Free agency is supposed to supplement the draft, not replace it. 

Then there's the chance their only day one quarterbacks got taken before they could pick. Everyone has said it, don't take a guy just because he's there if you're not in love with him.

The Patriots could be looking to take a developmental day two guy. There are several quarterbacks being listed as day two guys or Belichick could reach and grab a round four guy on day two to make sure he gets him.

Belichick could draft a day three guy to develop behind Cam and to compete with Stidham for the future starting job. Robert Kraft likes Stidham and included him in the conversation of future starter. So it's to be expected that any day three guy will have to compete with Stidham.

Then there's three more scenarios, two that fans won't be happy with. The Patriots could still make a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo or another veteran quarterback. The Patriots are not sold on Cam being the guy, so if the opportunity arises, it could happen. Many Fans still believe Jimmy is the rightful heir to the Brady Kingdom.

Then the next two scenarios are ride with the quarterbacks from last year, holding a quarterback competition this year for the starting spot, or going with Cam this year while developing Stidham and planning to draft a quarterback next year, either to be the starter at some point or to compete with Stidham for the job.

No matter what happens in the draft, the quarterback conversation will not be silenced until the Patriots have a guy under center that looks like a franchise quarterback. Anyone hoping the draft will silence that talk is going to be disappointed.