Every quarterback the Patriots have ever drafted - The Boston Globe (2024)

Harvey White, Clemson, first selection

White, the first player to sign a contract with the Patriots on Dec. 20, 1959, appeared in nine games for the team.

Jack Cummings (first selections), Richard Soergel (first selections), and Billy Brewer (second selections) were also taken by the Patriots in the 1960 draft, but none of them appear on the all-time roster.

1961

Fran Tarkenton, Georgia, fifth round, 34th overall

Tarkenton was drafted by the AFL’s Patriots but opted to sign with the NFL’s Vikings, who also drafted him in 1961. A Hall of Famer, the 1975 MVP threw 342 touchdowns over the course of his 18-year NFL career with the Vikings and Giants.

Paul Terhes (seventh round, 50th overall), James Wright (14th round, 106th overall), and Bryant Harvard (28th round, 218th overall) were all also drafted but don’t appear on the all-time roster.

1962 and 1963

In 1962, Jim Field out of Louisiana State was taken in the 26th round, 206th overall, but doesn’t appear on the Patriots all-time roster.

In 1963, Pat McCarthy from Holy Cross was taken by the Patriots in the 19th round (151st overall). He’s also not included on the Patriots’ all-time roster.

1964

Jack Concannon, Boston College, first round, first overall

Concannon opted to sign with the Eagles after they drafted him in the NFL draft. In a 10-year career, he threw 36 touchdowns and 63 interceptions.

The Patriots also selected Gary Wood (17th round, 132nd overall), but he isn’t on the all-time roster.

1965

Minnesota’s John Hankinson was picked in the 7th round, 55th overall; Charlie Green, from Wittenberg, was taken in the 13th round, 103rd overall. Neither are on the all-time roster.

1966

Penn State’s Jack White was picked in the 9th round, 74th overall. Billy Laird, from Louisiana Tech, went in the 15th round, 129th overall. Neither are on the all-time roster.

1968

John Schneider, Toledo, seventh round, 170th overall

Named the Mid-American Conference offensive player of the year in 1967, Schneider chose to sign with Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League instead of the AFL’s Patriots.

1969

Onree Jackson, Alabama A&M, fifth round, 110th overall

Jackson never played a snap of professional football.

1971

Jim Plunkett, Stanford, first round, first overall

Former UCLA coach Tommy Prothro described Plunkett as the “best pro quarterback prospect I’ve ever seen.” The 1970 Heisman Trophy winner threw 62 touchdown passes for the Patriots from 1971 to 1975. After a left shoulder injury early in the 1975 season, the Patriots turned to rookie Steve Grogan, and Plunkett never played a snap with the team again. He was traded to the 49ers prior to the 1976 draft for fellow quarterback Tom Owen, three first-round picks, and a second. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the Raiders in 1981 and 1984 and was named MVP of Super Bowl XV.

1973

Eddie McAshan, Georgia Tech, 17th round, 420th overall

McAshan was cut before the start of the regular season.

1975

Steve Grogan, Kansas State, fifth round, 116th overall

Grogan, a Patriots Hall of Famer, had a career riddled with injuries, but at the time of his retirement in 1990, he led the franchise as the all-time leader in passing yards (26,886) and passing touchdowns (182).

The Patriots took another quarterback in 1975: Tennessee’s Conredge Holloway, who went in the 12th round (306th overall). Holloway was drafted as a defensive back in 1975 and never played in the NFL. In the CFL, he won the league’s Most Outstanding Player award in 1982 and led the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup in 1983.

1978

Matt Cavanaugh, Pittsburgh, second round, 50th overall

Cavanaugh spent much of his professional career as a backup. He won two Super Bowls as a player, first with the 49ers in 1984 and then with the Giants in 1990.

1980

Jimmy Jordan, Florida State, 12th round, 320th overall

Jordan was released and never played a game with the Patriots.

1981

Brian Buckley, Harvard, 11th round, 295th overall

Buckley, a Marblehead High graduate, suffered a knee injury against Army in his final college season prior to the 1981 draft. He ran the Boston Marathon to prove to scouts that he was healthy. He was released after the Patriots third preseason game.

1982

Steve Sandon from Northern Iowa was taken in the 11th round, 296th overall, but never appeared in a game for the Patriots.

1983

Tony Eason, Illinois, first round, 15th overall; Tom Ramsey, UCLA, 10th round, 267th overall

For the first time in history, the Patriots took two quarterbacks in the same draft. Eason appeared in 72 games for the Patriots from 1983 to 1989, throwing 60 touchdowns. Ramsey, the last Patriots signal caller until Tom Brady to wear No. 12, played three seasons with the team, throwing six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

1984

Walter Lewis out of Alabama was taken in the third round (70th overall). He never played in the NFL and doesn’t appear on the Patriots all-time roster.

1987

Rich Gannon, Delaware, fourth round, 98th overall

The Patriots hoped to convert Gannon to running back, but he was traded to the Vikings before touching the field. Gannon was named MVP in 2002 with the Raiders, leading the league with 4,689 passing yards. He threw 180 touchdown passes in his career.

1990

Tommy Hodson, Louisiana State, third round, 59th overall

Primarily a backup throughout his career, Hodson spent three seasons in New England, appearing in 32 games and throwing just seven touchdown passes.

1991

Scott Zolak, Maryland, fourth round, 84th overall

At draft time in 1991, Zolak was described as a player with good size and arm strength but with a tendency to be inaccurate. From 1992 to 1998, he appeared in 54 games for the Patriots, throwing just eight touchdowns. Now, he’s on the Patriots’ call for 98.5 The Sports Hub.

1993

Drew Bledsoe, Washington State, first round, first overall

It was between Bledsoe and Notre Dame’s Rick Mirer for the top choice.

“The guy who easily stands out this year is Bledsoe, among these two quarterbacks and in the whole draft. I can’t imagine that people wouldn’t take Bledsoe if they had the choice,” an anonymous general manager said of Bledsoe, and the Patriots agreed, selecting the Washington product.

Making three Pro Bowl appearances in his nine seasons with New England, Bledsoe tossed 166 touchdown passes. During the 2001 season, he suffered a sheared blood vessel in his chest, his backup stepped in, and as history goes, the Patriots never looked back.

1994

Jay Walker, Howard, seventh round, 198th overall

Walker never appeared in a game for the Patriots. As a member of the Vikings, he completed both of his two career pass attempts. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2023.

1999

Michael Bishop, Kansas State, seventh round, 227th overall

Touted as “one of the best athletes he has ever seen,” according to Tom Brady, Bishop only attempted nine passes for the Patriots, completing three.

2000

Tom Brady, Michigan, sixth round, 199th overall

The Patriots drafted a relatively unknown college backup. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper gave Brady a fifth-round grade in the pre-draft process. Kiper described Brady as a “straight dropback passer who stands tall in the pocket, doesn’t show nervous feet, and does a nice job working through his progressions.” Little did anyone know what the Patriots were in for when they drafted Brady. Three MVPs, six Super Bowls with the team, and 649 touchdown passes in his career. Not bad for a sixth-round pick.

2002

Rohan Davey, Louisiana State, fourth round, 117th overall

Davey won two Super Bowls with the Patriots as a backup to Tom Brady but only appeared in seven games over three seasons for New England, completing eight of 19 passes for 88 yards.

2003

Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech, sixth round, 201st overall

After missing his rookie season due to an arm injury, Kingsbury was released by the Patriots prior to the 2004 season. He turned to coaching after appearing in just one NFL game for the Jets in 2005. Kingsbury, who coached at his alma mater from 2013 to 2018, was hired as head coach of the Cardinals in 2019. He lasted until 2022. This offseason, he signed a contract to become the Commanders offensive coordinator.

2005

Matt Cassel, USC, seventh round, 230th overall

Playing behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, Cassel only started one game in his four years as a Trojan, and it was at tight end. According to an anonymous scout, Cassel was a “well-built athlete with quick feet [and] has good velocity behind his tosses,” but he “does not read defenses efficiently.” He played four seasons in New England and started 15 games in 2008 in place of Tom Brady, who tore his ACL and MCL in the season opener, throwing 21 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Cassel was traded to the Chiefs in 2009 and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2010.

2008

Kevin O’Connell, San Diego State, third round, 94th overall

NFL.com described the current Vikings head coach as having “rare athleticism for the quarterback position” but “struggles with consistency.” Appearing in only two games with New England in 2008, O’Connell was released prior to the 2009 season after throwing two interceptions in a preseason game. He would bounce around from team to team but never see game action again.

2009

Julian Edelman, Kent State, seventh round, 232nd overall

Yes, Julian Edelman was drafted as a quarterback. A three-year starter for the Golden Flashes, he tossed 30 touchdown passes. Edelman knew he lacked the ability to play quarterback in the NFL, but he didn’t let that stop him. With three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, three Super Bowl rings, and a Super Bowl MVP, Edelman turned out to be better than anyone expected.

2010

Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, seventh round, 250th overall

Hired to be the Falcons offensive coordinator this offseason, Robinson signed a four-year contract with the Patriots after being drafted but was released less than two months later. He would bounce around practice squads but never appear in a game.

2011

Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, third round, 74th overall

Once a projected first-round selection, Mallett struggled with injuries which plummeted his stock. The Patriots snagged him on day two of the draft. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi saw Mallett as the best quarterback in his class, but six were selected before him. He would appear in four games in 2012 for the team, but was traded to the Texans prior to the 2014 regular season.

2014

Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois, second round, 62 overall

NFL.com called Garoppolo “Tough-minded” and “highly competitive,” but “a tad undersized with small hands and short arms” prior to the draft. Only starting in two games for the Patriots in his three years with the team, Garoppolo tossed five touchdowns and zero interceptions. With Brady still playing at a high level, the Patriots sold high and traded Garoppolo to the 49ers for a second-round pick. He led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019, but lost to the Chiefs. With the emergence of Brock Purdy and his inability to stay healthy, Garoppolo opted to sign with the Raiders. After a disappointing 2023 campaign, he was released and then signed with the Rams.

2016

Jacoby Brissett, North Carolina State, third round, 91st overall

“He’s a big, strong, athletic quarterback with the arm strength to impress,” according to Bleacher Report. “He’s a hot-and-cold player.” The first Black quarterback to start a game for New England, Brissett lasted only one season for the Patriots and was traded to the Colts after his rookie season. After four years in Indianapolis, he bounced from team to team over the next three seasons. But in March, Brissett signed a one-year deal to return to the team that drafted him.

2018

Danny Etling, Louisiana State, seventh round, 219th overall

Owner of the longest quarterback run in Patriots preseason history (86 yards), Etling was waived before his rookie year and signed back to the practice squad. He never appeared in an NFL game and currently plays for the Michigan Panthers of the USFL.

2019

Jarrett Stidham, Auburn, fourth round, 133rd overall

Stidham failed to build off a strong 2017 season with the Tigers, which saw him take down Georgia and Alabama. NFL.com touted him as “intelligent,” but “indecisive.” The current Bronco never started a game for the Patriots and was traded to the Raiders after two years.

2021

Mac Jones, Alabama, first round, 15th overall

After winning the 2021 national championship and being named a Heisman finalist, Jones drew comparisons to Matt Ryan as a pocket passer with average mobility. A strong rookie season led Patriots fans to believe they may have found their next franchise guy. His next two seasons saw stark regression and a drop in production. With fans and decision-makers growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of growth, Jones was traded for a sixth-round pick to the Jaguars this March.

2022

Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky, fourth round, 137th overall

In 2021, Zappe broke both the FBS passing yards and touchdown records with 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns, garnering some juice entering the draft. Taken in the fourth round, Zappe has started eight games over his first two seasons, seizing the opportunity due to Jones’ inconsistency. He’s thrown 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading New England to a 4-4 record in games he’s started.

Eli Cloutier can be reached at eli.cloutier@globe.com. Follow him @iamelicloutier.