The New England football faithful have been pondering the future of the Patriots quarterback position. On Friday, the team made a quarterback move by re-signing third-stringer Nathan Rourke. While this may not be a major move, it is a positive step for the team, especially after struggling to find a reliable backup behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe last year. Previously, the team cycled through options such as Matt Corral, Malik Cunningham, and Will Grier. Rourke was signed off waivers from Jacksonville on December 18 and provides some familiarity with the team. Although there is still uncertainty around the Patriots quarterback situation, having some established players on the roster is a good start.
The CFL’s Most Outstanding Player is Nathan Rourke, who at 25 years old has a captivating background despite never throwing an NFL pass. Hailing from Canada, Rourke attended Ohio University where he won the Jon Cornish trophy twice for being the top Canadian player in the NCAA. He excelled as a dual-threat quarterback, scoring 109 touchdowns in three years, with 60 through the air and 49 as a runner.
Although he wasn’t selected by an NFL team, Rourke was picked in the second round by the BC Lions of the CFL. He started for the Lions in 2022, breaking a CFL record with a 78.7% completion rate, despite missing a significant portion of the season due to a Lisfranc injury that required foot surgery. Despite this setback, Rourke was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
While Rourke hasn’t yet found success in the NFL, his athleticism has caught the attention of several teams. Prior to his CFL career, he even worked out for the New York Giants as a receiver. In January, Rourke signed with the Jaguars and played in three preseason games in 2023, throwing for 348 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown, though he did have two fumbles.
As for the Patriots, they still hold the No. 3 spot in the draft and may select a quarterback if they don’t sign or trade for one of the league’s top players. At the NFL combine, potential Patriots quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels all spoke highly of the team, with Daniels being the most likely candidate for the No. 3 pick.
On Friday, Daniels expressed his interest in joining the Patriots, saying “It would be amazing. Seeing Tom Brady’s six Super Bowl wins and the success they’ve had, it would be a great opportunity to help them get back on track.”
