Yup, that’s the pick: Fields. And the Patriots are trading up from 15th to 10th to get their quarterback. Surely, that’s a leap that’ll cost them.
Past Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, Fields is my favorite quarterback — a safer projection than North Dakota State’s Trey Lance (who played at a lower level of competition and didn’t play in 2021) but with more potential than Alabama’s Mac Jones (who seems to have a fairly low ceiling). Those five quarterbacks are all likely to go in the first round.
Here’s what McShay wrote:
Even after the Niners’ move up the board, it doesn’t appear Jimmy Garoppolo is in the cards this season for the Patriots. And while they brought back Cam Newton, the veteran is only signed for a year at $3.5 million guaranteed. The Pats haven’t spent a first-round pick on a QB since 1993 (Drew Bledsoe), but now is the time. Fields is accurate downfield and can develop into a top-tier starter for a team searching for stability at the position in the post-Tom Brady era.
Fields’ timing, accuracy and intellect seem to be on-point from the game film. His athleticism (with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash) is also ridiculous. He’s the whole package, with room to get even better.
