A veteran isn’t the only kind of quarterback the Patriots have “investigated” this offseason.
Former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was hosted by New England brass on Wednesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, on what was the final day teams could hold top-30 visits before the 2023 NFL Draft next week.
Levis, a 6-foot-4, 229-pound product, has met with several teams ahead of the draft, including the Raiders, Texans and Panthers, who are expected to select former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No.1 overall pick.
The 23-year-old Levis is projected to land somewhere in the first round, according to draft experts.
And while Rapoport noted the Patriots “always do due diligence” in Thursday’s report, he did call the move “interesting.”
It has been an “interesting” few weeks for the Patriots, whose third-year quarterback, Mac Jones, has been the subject of recent trade rumors.
Earlier this month, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported how Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shopped Jones to multiple teams this offseason.
The Buccaneers, Commanders, Raiders and Texans were referenced as potential landing spots in Florio’s report.
Belichick did not commit to Jones as the team’s starter, either.
There have been reports of friction between Belichick and Jones, New England’s 15th overall pick in 2021.
The 24-year-old quarterback “really pissed off” Belichick when he sought help outside the organization amid the Patriots’ offensive woes last season, NBC Sports’ Tom E. Curran previously alleged.
Despite the apparent discord, Jones is still on the Patriots’ roster whereas longtime backup quarterback Brian Hoyer is not.
Hoyer, a 14-year veteran, signed a two-year deal with the Raiders this month, a move that reunites him with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Much like Jones, Hoyer allegedly took issue with the team’s offense in 2022, when Matt Patricia and Joe Judge were at the helm.
NFL reporter Mike Giardi noted that idea this month when reporting the Patriots “have at least investigated bringing in a veteran QB to add to their young room.”
“Could have had Hoyer back it seems, but he too had issues with the offensive setup in 2022-23, just as [wide receiver] Jakobi Meyers, Mac and others did.”
The Patriots hired Bill O’Brien as their offensive coordinator in January.
O’Brien, who served as New England’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2011, said Jones gets a clean slate with him.
“It’s really not anything about what’s gone on in the past. That’s one of our themes on offense — to move forward,” O’Brien said Tuesday, according to ESPN.
Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod following an impressive rookie season, throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions through 17 regular-season games.
His production dipped in year two, when he played in 14 regular season games following an ankle injury in September, logging 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Patriots finished last season at 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
