Image courtesy of Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Let me start off by saying that I am a Lamar Jackson fan. Unlike the Bill Polian’s of the world, I think Jackson is a quarterback and I think he has the potential to be a very good quarterback. When I watch Jackson on film, I see Marcus Mariota with more speed. Jackson has the physical tools to be a good starting quarterback in the NFL.

What I don’t see is Jackson fitting into the Patriots system. The Patriots are as pro-style as it gets when it comes to the quarterback position. In the eyes of Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the quarterback should never be a center piece of the running game and they should never leave the field for someone else to play the position.

Jackson is the antithesis of that. He is the epitome of a running quarterback. He will make his first two reads and if nothing is open, he will take off. That is why he put up video game numbers in three years as the starting quarterback at Louisville, amassing over 13,000 yards of total offense and accounting 119 touchdowns (69 passing, 50 rushing). Jackson is a dual threat quarterback and he may not have the freedom to improvise in the Patriots offense that he would in another system.

Would it surprise if the Patriots drafted Jackson with one of their two first round picks? No. It’s Bill Belichick. Anything is possible with Wild Bill on draft weekend. I still have a hard time with the fit however. If Belichick selects Jackson, not only is the heir apparent to Brady but he is McDaniels guy. Belichick would be making the selection because McDaniels wants him and sees him as “his quarterback” when he takes over.

I think the Patriots would be better off addressing other needs with their two first round picks and taking a quarterback in the second round. I still think Washington State’s Luke Falk, Western Kentucky’s Mike White and Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta are better fits schematically than Jackson.

Either way you look at it, Lamar Jackson to the Patriots is making for some interesting pre-draft conversation in New England.