Patriots give up backup quarterback after quarterback-heavy draft: report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots’ quarterback room will look very different in 2024.
The Patriots are waiving backup QB Nathan Rourke. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Monday in the morning. The Patriots claimed Rourke off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars in mid-December, but the 25-year-old did not appear in any games.
UPDATE (4:30 p.m. ET): The patriots officially announced Rourke’s release Monday afternoon.
Rourke’s release leaves four quarterbacks on New England’s roster: eight-year veteran Jacoby Brissett, backup Bailey Zappe and rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton.
While Rourke’s departure is not a surprise, it is another step toward the Patriots retooling a critical position this offseason. The team traded Mac Jones to Jacksonville in March and double-did at QB in the 2024 NFL Draft, leading Maye to #3 overall and Milton in the sixth round with 193 total.
The question now is whether Zappe will remain with the team in 2024. Brissett and Maye are locks, and if Milton impresses during the offseason program and training camp, the Patriots could look for a trade partner for Zappe, who posted a career-high 4-4. record more than eight games as a starter in 2022 and 2023, or release him outright if no deal materializes.
Another option for New England would be to place Milton on the practice squad and keep Zappe as the third quarterback, although there would be the risk of another team claiming Milton off waivers.
Maye and Milton will get to work this week as the Patriots’ rookie minicamp begins Friday.