5 Quarterbacks the New England Patriots Could Draft to Replace Jimmy Garoppolo

#5 Jeremiah Briscoe (Sam Houston State)

In 2013, a little-known quarterback from Eastern Illinois University named Jimmy Garoppolo won the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS. A few months later he would be selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft and is now the face of the San Francisco 49ers. Fast forward three years and Jeremiah Briscoe is following a very similar path.

Briscoe, who transferred from UAB when the football program was shut down, won the Walter Payton Award following a 2016 season in which he threw 57 touchdown passes. He’s having similar success this season, and his 2018 NFL Draft stock is on the rise.

A standout performance in a postseason all-star game could elevate his stock much like the East-West Shrine Game did for Garoppolo and the Senior Bowl did for Carson Wentz. Garoppolo and Wentz, much like Briscoe, played at the FCS level and didn’t get nearly the exposure they deserved until late in the draft process.

It’s doubtful Briscoe is the second overall selection like Wentz, but he could climb as high as the second day of the draft. With two second-round picks, as well as one in the third, day two would once again be an ideal time for the Patriots to add a quarterback through the draft.