Patriots Set To Add New Quarterback In Offseason

Right now, the New England Patriots have Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito as the only quarterbacks on the roster. That's set to change, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed to reporters this week.

Speaking at the NFL Annual Meetings in Arizona, Vrabel mentioned that the team will be adding a new face to the quarterback room in 2026. The team recently released backup Joshua Dobbs this past March, and with the league allowing a third quarterback to dress each week in an emergency role, it's critical for the team to find a solid replacement.

"Yeah, we need a third arm," Vrabel said. "And we’ll try to find a young guy that we can develop. We’ll potentially add to the roster, whether that’s on the 53-man roster or practice squad."

The 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and there's several quarterback options for the Patriots to pursue (you can check out our Patriots Positional Draft Preview here). Some names, like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State's Drew Allar, are big-name prospects that could slide into New England's lap, while others like UConn's Joe Fagnano are slotted to be later-round picks.

What Did Dobbs Do Last Season?

Part of the reason for the position opening up is the role that Dobbs served for the Patriots last season. Brought over on a two-year deal, the veteran journeyman was signed to help become a mentor for a second-year Maye after a rocky first year in the league. He served his role, both as a mentor off the field and as a backup on the field (he completed seven passes on 10 attempts, including an impressive first down conversation against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7).

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito (16) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

DeVito is now sliding up into Dobb's QB2 spot after signing a two-year extension worth up to $7.4 million. The 27-year-old has seemingly moved off his role as a viral sensation with the New York Giants into a much more subdued role in New England. He didn't get onto the field last season, but clearly showed enough to warrant being brought back as a restricted free agent.

With a relatively cheap deal for DeVito, and Maye not yet eligible for a contract extension that certainly will come sooner rather than later, the Patriots can feel comfortable investing one of their 11 draft picks into the quarterback position.

And because Maye put together such an impressive season en route to his first-career All-Pro selection, the young quarterback can now turn from the mentee to the mentor heading into year three in New England.

"I think that’s probably pretty accurate,” Vrabel said when asked about Maye's ability to lead. "I think that I’m really appreciative of what Josh (Dobbs) did for us coming in last year with Drake going into his second year, and I’ve communicated that with Josh. And I think it’s just a different situation now. So that’s probably pretty accurate."

Where Does NE Go From Here?

The Patriots have much more urgent needs than a third-string quarterback in the NFL Draft. Edge rusher, wide receiver and offensive tackle depth come to mind when the Patriots are on the clock to open up the first three rounds. But they're stocked with four picks in the sixth round, a place where they can add a developmental arm to the room.

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