The New England Patriots kept filling their needs throughout the 2026 NFL Draft, and in the seventh round they arrived at quarterback. Looking for a third-stringer to back up Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito, they selected Texas Tech QB Behren Morton.
Let’s grade the pick.
Instant grades: Patriots draft QB Behren Morton 234th overall
Matt St. Jean: Morton is both tough and experienced, with a history of playing through injuries and over 1,200 career passing attempts at Texas Tech. The Patriots brought him in for a visit, likely to check his medicals. He’s a solid
prospect to be a backup quarterback in the NFL, although he doesn’t have the athleticism to be a quality starter. | Grade: C
Pat Lane: The Patriots wanted to add a quarterback for camp, and they do so here in the seventh round. I think Morton is a little too similar to Bailey Zappe for my liking, but he’ll be a reasonably good camp arm for them, one, however, I do not predict to make the team. | Grade: D
Andrew Guindon: The Patriots grab a developmental backup quarterback in the seventh round after releasing Joshua Dobbs earlier this offseason. Morton isn’t afraid to target the middle of the field, but his processing isn’t as quick as you would hope for an NFL backup just yet. If that doesn’t improve, it’ll be difficult for him to crack the roster in 2026. However, he was a three-year starter at Texas Tech and a two-year team captain who produced each season he started. | Grade: C+
The Patriots’ next draft pick is set to come at No. 245 in the seventh round.
What do you think about this draft pick, though? Do you like it? Do you not? Please participate in our poll and head to the comment section to discuss.
