Wilfork Warning: New England Patriots Won't Make Splash Without Drafting Quarterback

Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork believes the team won't be able to attract top free-agent receivers if they pass on a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Sep 25, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots Hall of Famer Vince Wilfork / Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

As the days tick by, the New England Patriots' decision in the upcoming NFL Draft looms larger. Whether to use the No. 3 overall pick on a quarterback, a sentiment echoed by team owner Robert Kraft, or potentially trade down is a hot topic of debate.

While both sides have made compelling arguments, former Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork left little doubt about his opinion on New England’s draft conundrum. 

“Quarterback. I’d go quarterback because this quarterback draft is so strong," Wilfork said in a recent interview with Patriots Wire. "You don’t know next year what it is. I’m going quarterback because I’m not going to get the receivers. I’m not going to get the top-skilled position players coming to my team if I don’t have a quarterback. It’s hard to sell a program and an organization if they don’t have a quarterback.

August 15, 2014 Foxboro, MA The New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles in a pre-season / Bob Breidenbach / USA TODAY NETWORK

“You can’t go out and land big receivers in free agency without a quarterback. It just doesn’t happen. I would go quarterback, absolutely. I would not trade out of it. Quarterback is my first pick.”

Considering that the Patriots are already dealing with the consequences of their 4-13 season and the uncertainty at quarterback this offseason, as they missed out on the signing of Calvin Ridley, Wilfork’s argument makes sense. 

The failure to land Ridley was reportedly not due to money, as the Patriots entered free agency with nearly $100 million in cap space. Rather, as Jerod Mayo assumed when speaking about the lack of splash signings, the Patriots’ current situation could’ve scared free agents off.

However, the possibility of drafting a quarterback that will make the Patriots a potential free-agent destination doesn’t make the situation easier. 

On the one hand, the Patriots' roster isn’t currently equipped to catapult them back into playoff contention, which a potential trade down could help with. However, as Wilfork states, it's not a given that they'll have another shot at securing their quarterback in the near future. 

So what will the Patriots do? That is the very question that makes the draft a must-watch for NFL fans. Aside from possibly the Chicago Bears, who have all but officially selected Caleb William first overall, fans and even teams don’t know what will happen.