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Patriots 2021 NFL Draft: 5 quarterback prospects Belichick must draft

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Dec 19, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Davis Mills (15) sets to throw a pass in the first half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Davis Mills (15) sets to throw a pass in the first half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots
2021 NFL draft prospects Davis Mills. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Why Bill Belichick, Patriots must draft Davis Mills

If Bill Belichick stands pat at No. 15 and selects a player other than a quarterback, it will be because of the attractive options in the second tier of quarterback prospects available in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots may frustrate fans by not taking a quarterback in the first round, but it won’t be the end of the world because of talent like Stanford product Davis Mills who would be exactly the type of player the team could develop.

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Standing at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Mills has displayed some promising accuracy over the 13 games he has started in 2019 and 2020 for Stanford.  He had a completion rating of 65.8 percent while throwing for 3,468 yards with 18 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions.

While everyone is talking about the other players on this list, selecting Mills in the second or third round could be a steal for the Patriots.  Although he has some flaws, he has shown first-round talent and could excel in the NFL with the right coaching.

Sounds like the type of project Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are looking for, especially with Cam Newton or perhaps even Jimmy Garoppolo (if not both) as the bridge veteran quarterback.

In all Mills is climbing the draft board just weeks ahead of the draft and feels his best fit is with a team that sounds much like the Patriots during their Tom Brady era.

"“Somebody that really spreads the ball around and puts a lot of demand on their quarterback to make pre-snap reads and pre-snap checks,” Mills told reporters regarding his best fit, via NBC Sports.  “I’ve been used to doing that at Stanford – just going out there and being successful is something I can do.”"

If the Patriots trade back in the second round for more draft capital and Davis Mills is sitting there in the late-second or early-to-mid third round when they select, Belichick must select this unpolished prospect because of the gem they could possibly mold out of him.

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