With the Andrew Walter project lasting roughly a month, the Patriots are down to two quarterbacks: Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer.
So will they pick up a third one, or will they stand pat with an undrafted rookie free agent from Michigan State?
If the team learned anything last year, it’s that they need to be ready in the event something busts on Brady.
Still, coach Bill Belichick was characteristically evasive regarding the possibility of picking up a third quarterback during a Friday conference call.
“I’m not sure,” Belichick said regarding the subject of a third quarterback. “We’ll have to wait and see what our different options are, not only what players are available in one way or another, but also in terms of how we want to manage our roster. There are so many moving parts to the process, with different positions and with the overall makeup of the team, and looking at the 45-man active roster, and the different players that might or might not be available throughout the league. So I’d say it’s a possibility, not a certainty. We’ll just evaluate it on a case-by-case basis as to how we feel the best makeup of our roster this year will be.”
Belichick downplayed the possibility of having seventh-round receiver Julian Edelman, a converted quarterback from Kent State, pull double duty.
“He’s worked as a receiver and as a returner and we feel like that’s really his position,” Belichick said. “That’s where he’ll continue to get most of his work and he needs it there, too. You’re talking about converting a guy to that position in the National Football League. There [are] a lot of things that he needs to learn and practice -- and he works hard, don’t get me wrong -- it’s just the volume. I would see him more at those other positions than at quarterback.”
The Patriots continue to be linked to Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley, and Belichick deflected a question regarding whether the Pats have been in communication with Philly.
“We have conversations with every team in the league this time of year,” Belichick said. “That’s just part of the communication and that’s what time of year it is with personnel.”
Bottom line? The Patriots undoubtedly will be adding a quarterback with starting experience to provide depth on the team’s depth chart. Whether the new guy is A.J. Feeley or someone else remains to be seen.