2020 NFL Draft: 5 best fits for Jordan Love

2. New England Patriots

The Patriots seem to be committing to Jarrett Stidham as Tom Brady’s successor, though Brian Hoyer was brought back with some notion he’ll be able to compete for the starting job. The subsequent decision to cut Cody Kessler leaves just two quarterbacks on the roster.

New England is a popular landing spot for Love in mock drafts, with the assumption he drops that far to No. 23. They wouldn’t have to rush him into the lineup as a rookie, with Stidham and theoretically Hoyer above him on the depth chart, as he learns Josh McDaniels’ offense and more broadly gets indoctrinated in “The Patriot Way.”

Stidham may prove he is the quarterback for the Patriots in 2020 and beyond. But it’s hard to see Bill Belichick counting on that happening, with only Hoyer as a realistic fallback option this year and no immediate contingency plan for the future. It’s possible they move toward later round prospects to get a quarterback, in an effort to unearth another find, but there will be opportunities earlier.

Love’s upside will outweigh any downside risk the longer he lasts in the first round. The Patriots should take the leap if he’s available, and a move up to get him shouldn’t be ruled out.