ESPN reporter confident Patriots will draft quarterback

Reiss said he spoke to Bill Belichick about this year's quarterback class, and the always elusive Patriots coach told him it was an "interesting group with a lot of depth to it." It's exactly the type of non-committal answer we've all come to expect from Belichick, but for Reiss, it was enough for him to confidently proclaim that the team would add another gunslinger to the roster.

The idea of the Patriots taking a quarterback in the draft shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has kept up with mock drafts and insider rumors. The Patriots have been linked to a number of quarterbacks, most commonly Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. Since they have a whopping 12 picks in the draft, they could even trade up if they are targeting anyone specifically (except Joe Burrow, whom the Bengals are barely entertaining offers about).

The biggest reason Reiss is convinced that the Patriots are taking a quarterback is likely their current lack of depth at the position. Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer are the only two quarterbacks on the team at this time. The Pats have expressed confidence in Stidham, but at the same time, he's a second-year fourth-round pick with 14 career passing yards. It's not hard to imagine the Patriots might want to throw some competition into the mix.

Still, it's worth noting that Reiss isn't saying that the Patriots will take a quarterback in the first round. He's simply saying they will take a quarterback at some point in the draft. Considering the Patriots haven't taken a quarterback in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, it makes sense that they may wait and take a prospect in the later rounds.

Then again, they haven't had much of a need to draft a quarterback until now, so maybe Belichick pulls the trigger on someone he thinks could be his next six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Or maybe Reiss is totally off, and the Pats don't take a quarterback at all. They could just as easily pick up one of the remaining free agents, including Cam Newton or Jameis Winston. Only time will tell, and it's exactly what makes the draft one of the best times of the year for fans.