The New England Patriots released Joshua Dobbs on Monday and could look to add a quarterback through the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Patriots may be comfortable with Tommy DeVito as their No. 2 quarterback, so it would make more sense to find a No. 3 quarterback through the draft, rather than free agency. However, the Patriots could wait until Day 3 of the NFL Draft to take a No. 3 quarterback. The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed predicted the Patriots would select Cole Payton of North Dakota State University in the sixth round to round out their quarterback room.
"Payton is a phenomenal athlete at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds," Kyed wrote on Wednesday. "He was just a one-year starter at quarterback but rushed for 2,069 yards with 31 touchdowns in five seasons with the Bison. As a senior in 2025, he completed 71.2% of his passes for 2,719 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions."
Payton's athleticism makes him an interesting addition. He had an 83 athleticism score at the NFL Combine, ranking fourth among quarterbacks. He ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and had a 40-inch vertical jump. He showed solid ability as a passer last season, and could be a great quarterback to stash behind DeVito.
Should the Patriots ever need him, his running ability could be something that helps him keep the team competitive. Taking the 23-year-old on Day 3 of the NFL Draft could end up being a solid move for the Patriots.
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