The New England Patriots may not have one of the top picks in the 2021 NFL Draft but they are still looking to steal a promising talent to add to their roster next season. A few days leading up to the proceedings, rumors have been swirling that the Patriots are reportedly keeping an eye on Florida Gators gunslinger Kyle Trask to be their potential quarterback of the future.
Per NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah on the Move the Sticks podcast (h/t of Ryan Hannable of WEEI):
“[There's] a little buzz in league circles that the Patriots have done a lot of homework on Kyle Trask,” he said.
Jeremiah later added: “I think he makes a lot of sense — the size, the decision-making, the accuracy, those are traits the New England Patriots [like]. I think they had some success with a guy like that, didn’t they? It’s interesting to see what the Patriots end up doing here. They are in a position where they could vault up for a quarterback. Do you sit back and be patient and see what falls to you at 15, or do you maybe have your eyes on one of these middle-round guys, or somebody outside the first round? I just think Kyle Trask from a traditional standpoint, again Josh McDaniels I think he would dig what he brings to the table.”
Trask isn't generating the same buzz as compared to Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Justin Fields but he still completed a respectable three-year amateur career with the Gators.
In his senior year in 2020, he racked up a total of 4,283 passing yards on 301 completions to go with 43 touchdowns through 12 games played. Trask's production led him to be selected as a member of the second-team All-SEC and a finalist in the Heisman Trophy award for the 2020 season.
Although the Patriots have re-signed Cam Newton with a fresh one-year deal, the quarterback position remains to be up for grabs. That largely depends on on the moves that the team will make in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Despite the interest from the team, Kyle Trask still has room for improvement in the pros as questions about his mobility on the field continue to emerge leading up to the draft.
Drafting a prospect like Trask could elevate the competition QB competition in Foxboro. At the same time, having him could ensure that the Patriots have a backup plan in case their second run with Cam Newton fails to improve.