Patriots draft pick listed as one of the worst in 2026 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots addressed multiple needs on both sides of the football in the 2026 NFL Draft. One of those areas was a No. 3 quarterback to play behind Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito. So with the 234th pick in the seventh round of the draft, the Patriots selected former Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton.

It's a move that came with mixed opinions. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski even went as far as including it in his list of the worst picks in the draft.

Sobleski wrote:

"The New England Patriots spent a seventh-round pick on a backup quarterback option with little physical upside when other, better possibilities remained on the board."

While wanting the Patriots to take another player is understandable, this selection feels warranted. The Patriots needed additional depth in their quarterback room. DeVito's ability to be a serviceable backup is obvious given his experience. He has served as a backup and started in NFL games.

However, the Patriots needed a No. 3 option to develop behind the scenes. They obviously saw something that they liked in Morton's game that made them want to spend a draft pick on him. And to be fair, he has shown promise in his collegiate career. His best year came in 2024 when he threw for 3,335 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Those numbers dipped last season with Morton racking up 2,780 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. The hope is for Morton to grow and develop behind two veteran quarterbacks, while under the watchful eye of Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

At the end of the day, Morton is a talented quarterback with upside. The Patriots didn’t necessarily waste a selection. They had a need, and they didn't shy away from addressing it.