Top QB prospect talks potentially joining Pats, Brady's greatness

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The New England Patriots' quarterback job might be up for grabs next season.

Current starter Cam Newton is on a one-year contract, while backup Jarrett Stidham has fallen out of favor. That means the Patriots' next starting QB could be in the 2021 NFL Draft, where several quality signal-callers are expected to go in the first round.

BYU's Zach Wilson is among those top QB prospects and could be on the board for New England if it has a top-15 pick next spring. So, how would Wilson feel about following in the footsteps of Tom Brady and Cam Newton?

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"That's cool. If that's the team that wants me, shoot, I’ll give it everything I have,” Wilson told CBS Sports Radio's Zach Gelb Show on Wednesday. "And even if Cam was still there when I went into that situation, what a great quarterback to learn from. What a great guy to sit behind and experience the way he’s experienced the game and learn from all his mistakes and the things he’s had success with as well.

"And [Bill] Belichick is a great coach and they're going to be on top again one day."

The 21-year-old also said all the right things about former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, whose massive shoes he'd be trying to fill on a New England team that's floundered in his absence.

"I think Brady’s phenomenal. I think you have to give him so much credit for his career. So many people talk about Belichick and the things that he’s done, and I think it’s there. But I think the competitive spirit is what makes Tom Brady special. 

" ... I feel like he just wants to be the best so bad. And really there’s nothing special about him physically, right? So I mean, that’s why he’s not my favorite to watch because there’s really nothing special. But he always gets the job done."

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Wilson wasn't viewed as a potential first-round pick prior to his stellar 2020 campaign, in which he's thrown for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns with just two interceptions for the 8-0 Cougars.

Now, the Utah native is going as high as No. 5 in NFL Mock Drafts and almost certainly will be on the Patriots' radar if they look to take a QB in the 2021 draft.

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