2020 NFL mock draft: Could the Patriots really skip a quarterback?

For the first time in a very long time, the New England Patriots are in limbo.

Quarterback Tom Brady has departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving New England with Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. That is not ideal.

Throughout much of the draft process, the Patriots have been linked to Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. In the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, he was surprisingly taken by the Buccaneers at No. 14. Somehow, Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is still available.

But that’s not what Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit has in mind with his pick.

Buchmasser: The most realistic scenario from the Patriots’ perspective might be a trade down to fill the 63-pick gap between their first- and third-round selections and to take advantage of the draft’s general depth beyond Round 1. That said, Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray would be a quality addition to the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense — one that lost linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts in free agency — if the team does opt to make a pick at No. 23.

New England’s defensive scheme, after all, is largely built around its linebackers making impact plays either at the edge or from the second level behind the two-gapping defensive tackles. Having options in the fold that can contribute on all three defensive downs — such as Van Noy, Collins, or Dont’a Hightower — therefore is integral to the operation. Murray would offer just that as well: he is a potential immediate starter who enters the league with an already high floor and an intriguing athletic profile.

Murray’s ability to play off the ball as a rangy middle/inside linebacker but also move down to hold the edge on the defensive line would make him a valuable chess piece — a Hightower 2.0, if you will, who offers a similar albeit not quite as versatile skill set. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old projects to fit in well with New England’s hybrid scheme that mixes 3-4 and 4-3 concepts based on situation and opponent and needs its linebackers to bring the necessary intelligence and reactionary skills to the table. Murray checks all those boxes.

Analysis: Not taking Herbert here is stunning. Let’s try and figure out the logic if Bill Belichick did this in the actual draft. If Belichick is concerned about the future of his team, he could lean into what he knows best. That would be the defense. The long-running Patriots dynasty didn’t start with Brady. It started with Belichick’s defense. He could look to rebuild that defense in this draft. His secondary is arguably the NFL’s best right now, but the front seven needs a lot of work. To me, Murray is the best defensive player available in this mock draft.

The trouble is, Herbert was literally the only player ahead of him in overall rankings. While I understand going defense, it’s really hard to see New England passing on the Oregon quarterback.

Our final pick of the day will be up at 1 p.m. ET with Canal Street Chronicle’s Chris Dunnells making the pick for the Saints.