What Does Bill Belichick Look for When Drafting a Quarterback?

The NFL Draft is less than a week away, and the biggest question surrounding the Patriots remains the quarterback position.

After failing to select a quarterback in last year’s draft, could this be the year that Bill Belichick and the Patriots select their quarterback of the future? Or, at the very least, someone to come compete in training camp?

But, what exactly does Bill Belichick look for when drafting a quarterback?

The answer isn’t concrete, but NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah may have a pretty accurate assessment of what Bill Belichick looks for.

Last year, Jeremiah released a tweet that contained some scouting notes from 1991. The notes were a summary of Bill Belichick’s offensive philosophies. The notes may be thirty years old, but Belichick’s quarterback philosophies still ring true today:

“#1 is to make good decisions — then arm, size, physically tough, leadership, guys look up to and have confidence in, a real competitor. Accurate rather than guy with a cannon. Emphasis on our game will be on decision, timing, accuracy — guy needs to be confident, intelligence is important but not as much so as field awareness & judgment. Can’t be sloppy fundamentally unsound guy with ball handling, [techniques] etc. Footwork, drops, release, etc. — QB has to be able to throw the ball with accuracy.”

Accuracy and decision-making seem like a core themes in these notes, and it seems like a priority when evaluating a prospect. Accuracy seems to outweigh other attributes, such as arm strength. In terms of decision-making, making the correct reads and limiting turnovers are crucial in the Patriots’ system.

Belichick also details leadership as a strong trait, a long with a being a true competitor. Belichick wants his quarterback to be the first guy in, and the last guy out of the facility on a daily basis. He wants his quarterback to be the leader on the roster.

Since the year 2000, Bill Belichick has selected 11 quarterbacks in the draft. The highest Belichick has ever drafted a quarterback was in 2014, as he selected Jimmy Garoppolo in the second-round. The majority of Belichick’s quarterback selections have been in the mid-to-later rounds, and there is some common themes between these quarterbacks.

College Football Reference & NFL Combine Results

9 of the 11 draft picks played at Power 5 schools. Power 5 schools are colleges that play in the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, and the SEC. The lone quarterbacks that did not fit this specific criteria was Jimmy Garoppolo at Eastern Illinois and Kevin O’Connell at San Diego State. But, the irony here is that Garoppolo was the highest that Bill Belichick has ever drafted a quarterback, despite him playing at Eastern Illinois.

So, despite a few outliers, it’s fair to suggest that Bill Belichick values a quarterback that is battle-tested at the highest level of college football.

Another stat to note is, 10 Belichick’s 11 draft picks have all played and started games in multiple seasons. The only exception was Matt Cassel. who was the backup at USC, and never started a collegiate game. So, it sure seems like Belichick wants his quarterbacks to have a large sample size coming out of college. Outside of Matt Cassel, each draft choice has registered at least 20 starts at the collegiate level.

Probably the most consistent trait Bill Belichick has looked at when drafting a quarterback has been height. Belichick has never drafted a quarterback under 6-2, all 11 of his prior choices were 6-2 or taller.

Things obviously change from year-to-year, but based on history, on top of past and present philosophies, Belichick looks at at least eight different things when drafting a quarterback (despite some outliers).

1. Accuracy

2. Good/Quick Decisions

3. Leadership/ True Competitor

4. Good Judgement

5. Smart

6. Power 5 School

7. Over a Season of Collegiate Experience

8. At Least 6-2

So, who do the Patriots have in mind?