NFL Writer Explains Why Patriots' Day 3 Pick Was One Of 2026 Draft's Worst

NFL Writer Explains Why Patriots' Day 3 Pick Was One Of 2026 Draft's Worst originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots added nine players through the 2026 NFL Draft, but one of their selections has faced a bit more criticism than the rest of the class.

New England drafted Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton in the seventh round, and Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski thinks it was one of the worst picks in the draft and stated this as his major issue with the pick.

"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," Sobleski wrote on Thursday.

Morton played five seasons of college football at Texas Tech, appearing in 45 games and throwing for 8,989 yards and 71 touchdowns. However, it seems he may have reached his full potential as a quarterback. Morton is already 24, which is older than Drake Maye, who is entering his third NFL season.

It won't be too much of a setback if Morton doesn't pan out since he is a seventh-round pick. Yet, if New England had drafted someone with a higher upside and given them time to develop over a few seasons, it could have had a legitimate No. 2 quarterback moving forward.

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