Could a QB be a Pats draft target?

The 2020 NFL Draft is almost here.

Thursday marks the start of a three-day process during which the Patriots and 31 other teams will try to add building blocks to their franchise. This year’s draft will be different because of the coronavirus pandemic, as teams will be making their picks remotely. As always, it will be fascinating to see how the Patriots’ draft unfolds.

This year, the Patriots are set to pick 23rd overall in the first round. They have 12 total [...]

The 2020 NFL Draft is almost here.

Thursday marks the start of a three-day process during which the Patriots and 31 other teams will try to add building blocks to their franchise. This year’s draft will be different because of the coronavirus pandemic, as teams will be making their picks remotely. As always, it will be fascinating to see how the Patriots’ draft unfolds.

This year, the Patriots are set to pick 23rd overall in the first round. They have 12 total picks, which ties for the second-most in the NFL.

This offseason has seen more change to the Patriots than ever seen before, with Tom Brady leaving to sign with Tampa Bay and Rob Gronkowski joining him via trade this week. Will the Patriots draft a quarterback early or just roll with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer? That’s one of the many questions that should be answered over the next three days.

Here’s a look at what the Patriots could do in Thursday’s first round:

If the Pats draft a quarterback in the first round, it would not a positive sign for Stidham. This offseason, the team has met with several top prospects. Josh McDaniels met with Justin Herbert, who has been projected to go in the first round and perhaps in the top five. The Patriots would have to trade up to grab the 6-foot-6-inch quarterback from Oregon.

Jordan Love is another quarterback with a first-round grade. He met with the Patriots at the NFL Combine. If the Patriots make a play for Herbert, it would not be surprising if it were with the intention to start him this year. A player like Love, however, could probably use at least a year to develop.

The receiver class is absolutely stacked. The top players are likely to be gone by the time the Patriots are on the clock. Last year, Bill Belichick took a receiver in the first round for the first time. Would he do it again? The Patriots might have a shot at someone like Baylor’s Denzel Mims, Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk or TCU’s Jalen Reagor in the first round. Among the many receivers the Patriots met with at the Combine — Henry Ruggs (Alabama), Justin Jefferson (LSU), Mims and Reagor.

Of course, the Patriots’ biggest offensive need is tight end. Unfortunately, this year’s draft class is considered to be weak. The best of the bunch are Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) and Adam Trautman (Dayton). Both could be taken by the time Round 2 is completed. Perhaps Round 3. The Patriots currently have more fullbacks on the roster (James Develin, Dan Vitale and Jakob Johnson) than tight ends (Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo), so they’ll clearly add someone at some point.

It would not be surprising to see the Patriots add an offensive lineman early. Right tackle Marcus Cannon is coming off a difficult season. Center David Andrews missed last year because of blood clots in his lungs. This year’s draft features some very good tackles, with the top four players likely to be taken off the board early. The Patriots could be in line to grab someone such as Ezra Cleveland (Boise State), Austin Jackson (USC) or Josh Jones (Houston).

The Pats met with Jackson at the NFL Combine and had predraft video interviews with Jones and Cleveland, so they’ve done their homework. With the uncertainty surrounding Andrews, it would not be a complete surprise to see them draft a center. One option is Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz. He met with the Patriots at the Combine.

Last year, the Patriots were led by their defense. This offseason, that group lost two important pieces in linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins. That’s a major reason why an edge-rushing linebacker is another big need for the Patriots. They’re in good position if they want an athletic linebacker such as Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray, Wisconsin’s Zack Baun or LSU’s Pat Queen, with whom they met at the Combine. If LSU edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson fell, the Patriots would be ecstatic. If they wanted to add a prototypical defensive end, they could look at Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos or Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa.

The Patriots could surprise everyone and add a pass-rushing defensive tackle. Ross Blacklock (TCU) or Marlon Davison (Auburn) are intriguing and both are expected to go somewhere in the bottom of the first or early second round. The Pats met with Blacklock at the Combine.

The strength of the Patriots’ defense is the secondary. It cannot be discounted, however, that the Pats could add a safety in this draft, since Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung both will turn 33 this summer. If they pick a safety in the first round, Xavier McKinney (Alabama) could be the guy.

The Patriots obviously will have plenty of options Thursday night.