New England Patriots: Will Grier a real option at 32?

Would the New England Patriots, fresh off yet another Super Bowl victory, really use their top draft pick on West Virginia’s Will Grier?

The New England Patriots seem to always be a fun team to pair with a high-profile quarterback in mock drafts, but would they really use their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on a quarterback with the way Tom Brady has been playing?

Brady doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all, but the Patriots know at some point, he will have to hang up the cleats. They don’t necessarily have to anticipate it, but when was the last time the Patriots made a reactionary move?

They are always three steps ahead.

Therefore, it does make sense for them to consider using a high draft pick on a quarterback, even someone as polarizing as West Virginia’s Will Grier.

Grier took a pre-draft visit to New England to meet Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ coaching staff, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see them pull a move like this at the bottom of the first round.

After all, why not?

The Patriots have other needs, sure, but if they feel like Grier has the potential to be a starter in their system two, three, four years from now, why not give him a shot to develop?

The worst case scenario for the Patriots, as it typically seems to be, is that they would flip Grier for another high draft pick after he shows well in preseason and regular season spot duty.

What Grier does well as a quarterback has been frustratingly overshadowed by what he lacks as a prospect, in my opinion.

What Grier lacks in arm strength, he makes up for with anticipation and smart reads with the football. He will make some ‘hero ball’ throws at times where you wonder why he didn’t just eat a sack or throw the ball away instead of turning it over, but Grier’s confidence should be fostered, not limited.

The Patriots’ offensive system is predicated on timing and anticipation, as well as reading defenses before the snap. Grier can do those things well already, and he plays with a great competitive fire.

Ultimately, he may not be a great value to the Patriots at the bottom of round one, but then again, he might be. If Grier is one of the top 3-4 quarterbacks on their board, they have enough picks to play with that the might take a shot on him.

Tony Pauline reported, as a matter of fact, that the Patriots have shown ‘a ton of interest’ in Grier.

There are rumors Grier won’t last long on day two, so if the Patriots feel they can develop him and they want to draft him, they might as well get the fifth-year rookie contract option and see what happens.

Otherwise, they might be wondering if he was the one who got away, should he go elsewhere in round two and have success at the NFL level as he did in college.