The New England Patriots' quarterback-less NFL Draft was not by design, according to head coach Bill Belichick.
New England lost superstar quarterback and six-time Super Bowl champion Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via free agency.
Despite Brady's exit, the Patriots ended the 2020 NFL Draft without using any of their 10 selections on a QB – passing on Jordan Love with the 23rd pick.
It left Jarrett Stidham – Brady's backup last season – and veteran Brian Hoyer as the only quarterbacks on the roster in New England, where the Patriots reportedly agreed to terms with Louisiana Tech's J'Mar Smith as an undrafted free agent.