New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton is willing to do whatever it takes to learn.
The defending AFC Champions have their quarterback situation well in hand after Drake Maye’s MVP-caliber 2025 season. And after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Morton is not likely to take Maye’s place anytime soon. But while meeting virtually with the media after the draft, Morton said he is happy for the opportunity to learn from Maye.
“I think he’s a great guy,” Morton said of Maye. “I think that he’s a guy that everyone attracts to in the locker room. I’m really looking forward to picking his brain about what he’s done in the league so far. He’s been very successful this last year. And so I’m going to do whatever it takes throughout the week of gameplan, prep, of what he ever needs. If he needs a coffee from Starbucks, I’m there for Drake. Whatever he needs throughout this process, I’m here for him.”
Morton and Maye actually have some history with each other. They both attended the Elite 11, a competitive training camp for high school quarterbacks, in 2020. Maye was selected as one of the 12 winners of the competition, along with several of his 2024 NFL Draft classmates: J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted 10th overall by the Minnesota Vikings; Kyle McCord, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and is currently with the Green Bay Packers; and Elite 11 MVP Caleb Williams, drafted first overall by the Chicago Bears. Another of the winners, Garrett Nussmeier, was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Morton was not a winner, but he was named a finalist.
“I got to know him there,” Morton said. “He’s a great dude. He’s a young guy that I can learn from. Obviously had a tremendous season last year. And so, getting to learn from him this year, and also [backup QB] Tommy DeVito, this is going to be a great opportunity for me. I’m really excited about it.”
While Maye played only three seasons at the University of North Carolina before being drafted third overall by the Patriots, Morton had to wait his turn at Texas Tech. He played in two games as a freshman in 2021 before redshirting the rest of the year. He appeared in nine games in his redshirt freshman season in 2022 with four starts, going 1-3; and 96 of 169 passing for 1,117 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, he started out as the backup, but took the job from Tyler Shough when he went down with an injury. He had 10 appearances and eight starts, going 6-2; he completed 182 of 293 passes for 1,754 yards and 15 TDs with eight INTs.
He won the starting job in 2024, going 8-4; he went 295 of 466 passing for 3,335 yards and 27 TDs against eight picks. In 2025, he started 11 games and went 11-0; he went 201 of 300 passing for 2,643 yards and 22 TDs with four picks.
Morton also missed significant time due to injuries of his own, but said it gave him an opportunity to prove himself.
“My time at Texas Tech, I’ve been banged up with a broken leg and a bum shoulder, people have counted me out, and so this is kind of an opportunity for me to prove people wrong. So to get this opportunity by the Patriots, I’m going to take full advantage of it for sure,” he said.
Morton recounted an experience with a TSA agent at the Boston Logan International Airport for a pre-draft visit with the team. The agent told him he was “going to love it up here.” He said the people he met were “awesome,” and he was “fired up to be there.”
“I’m a competitor,” he said. “I’m going to elevate the room for sure. And I’m gonna do whatever it takes to make this organization better.”
Morton said he was drawn to the tradition and winning culture in New England.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of since being a little kid,” he said. “And so to have this opportunity, I mean, this is going to be a really cool experience and I’m going to be a sponge and soak up every [bit of] information I can get from Drake, and guys that have been in the league for some time.”
