Patriots Plan to Add 3rd QB Behind Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, Says Exec

The New England Patriots won't enter the 2020 preseason with only two quarterbacks on the roster, according to a prominent team executive.

Pats director of player personnel Nick Caserio said Saturday during a video press conference that the organization intends to add another quarterback alongside Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer:

"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.

"We're going to have another player here at this position. Where he comes from and how he gets here is sort of yet to be determined."

The Pats did not select a quarterback on Day 1 or 2 of the 2020 NFL draft, but they have six picks on Day 3, including four in the sixth round, which is where they took Tom Brady in 2000.

New England is in a strange position as far as its quarterback situation goes after Brady left to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency after spending 20 seasons with the Patriots and winning six Super Bowls.

With the future Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest quarterback of all time out of the picture, there is uncertainty regarding who will be the Pats starter under center when the 2020 season begins.

Stidham is the current favorite, as New England selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of Auburn and seems to believe in his skill set. Inexperience is the big knock against Stidham, as he attempted just four passes as a rookie, one of which was intercepted.

Hoyer, who the Patriots signed this offseason after he was released by the Indianapolis Colts, has experience in spades. The 34-year-old is about to enter his 12th NFL season and is in his third stint with the Patriots.

Hoyer has appeared in 69 regular-season games and made 38 starts, going 16-22. Although he has primarily been a backup during his career, he made 13 starts for the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and nine starts for the Houston Texans in 2015. He also led the Texans to the playoffs that season.

While Hoyer is a nice insurance policy due to his knowledge of New England's system, he is not the long-term answer at quarterback.

Stidham may be, but it is far from guaranteed that he will go from fourth-round pick to productive NFL quarterback in 2020 or in the future.

The Patriots do have options when it comes to adding to their quarterback room. In the draft, New England could target Washington's Jacob Eason or Georgia's Jake Fromm, who are the top remaining quarterbacks entering Day 3 of the draft.

New England could also explore the free-agent market, where a pair of former No. 1 overall draft picks in Cam Newton and Jameis Winston are still available.

Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, is coming off significant shoulder and foot injuries, while Winston threw for over 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, but also threw 30 interceptions.

Regardless of how they go about adding a quarterback, Caserio clearly understands the need to bring in more competition and depth at a position that is a question mark for New England for the first time in two decades.