2018 NFL Draft: Mike White the Patriots answer at QB?

Has Tom Brady’s heir been found in the 2018 NFL Draft?

After trading Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo the New England Patriots are without a developmental quarterback for the first time since 2005 with Matt Cassel. With Tom Brady entering Super Bowl LII at the age of 40, New England will be tasked with finding another quarterback to develop.

The best part about the Patriots having Brady continue to perform at his “advanced age” is the lack of urgency they really need at the quarterback position. They can afford to wait until the second or even third day of the 2018 NFL Draft, similar to what they did with Garoppolo and Brissett.

Owning three picks in the first two rounds after the Garoppolo trade with San Francisco the Patriots have the ability to find their next guy. After watching Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White during the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama the Patriots may have their guy.

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A transfer from South Florida, White excelled in his two seasons with the Hilltoppers. Appearing in 27 games he threw 63 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions with over 8,500 passing yards.

Breaking onto the national stage in Mobile this week White worked well in the huddle with command and poise. On the field he showed a tremendous arm with touch and accuracy down the field.

On Saturday he threw a perfect deep ball to LSU wide receiver D.J. Clark down the left sideline. As you’ll see on the play below, White steps up in the pocket despite pressure coming from his left side. Without flinching he fires a high arching pass down the far side of the field that is dropped perfectly to Clark in stride.

White finished the Senior Bowl going 8/11 with 128 passing yards and a touchdown. His teammate on the South squad Kyle Lauletta from Richmond took home MVP honors in the 45-16 rout of the North team, but White came out looking very impressive.

With prototypical size at 6’4 225 lbs, White looked like an NFL quarterback on the field in Mobile.

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New England is known for taking the small school quarterbacks, evident with Garoppolo coming out of Eastern Illinois and Brissett with N.C. State. Considering Brady will likely play for two or three more years, White is a terrific option as a development arm to learn under Brady.

With two picks in the second round, the Patriots can use the 49ers pick at the top of the round to take another first round talent and save their late second round pick to select White or trade back for more picks.

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