In looking at the New England Patriots 2023 quarterback room, the oldest passer happens to be 2019 NFL Draft selection Trace McSorley. However, the 27-year-old isn’t considered QB1 or QB2 in Foxboro. In fact, the elder statesman in the QB room is facing his own roster odds ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Nevertheless, McSorley can use Thursday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans as a vehicle to land on the final 53-man roster.
Trace McSorley Was Record-Setting QB in the Big Ten
Before his NFL career, McSorley became a beloved figure in Happy Valley. He not only led the Penn State offense but shattered numerous records for the Nittany Lions:
- Career Wins: 31
- Career Completions: 720
- Career Passing Yards: 9,899
- Career Passing Touchdowns: 77
- Total Offensive Yards: 11,596
- Total 300-Yard Passing Games: 10
McSorley even rewrote the school record books as a runner — breaking records in career rushing yards for a PSU QB (1,697) and total rushing touchdowns (30). And the last record McSorley owns for Penn State is consecutive games with a touchdown pass — which stands at 34.
The native of Ashburn, Virginia, broke previous records held by past Nittany Lions legend Christian Hackenberg. But while he etched his name in Penn State lore for his QB play, McSorley fell in the NFL Draft in a class that featured future league leaders.
McSorley Was the Last QB Taken in the Draft
Kyler Murray kicked off the 2019 class by going No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Following the Heisman winner came a future NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner in Nick Bosa. McSorley, though, waited two days and 196 picks before finally receiving the phone call from the Baltimore Ravens — announcing him at 197th overall in the sixth round.
No other passer was taken after McSorley.
Why did the record-breaking Big Ten dual-threat drop so low? While his 6’0″ height was one aspect that was brought up, NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein pointed out how McSorley “fell victim to a disappointing regression during his senior season” while also lacking arm talent.
McSorley Attempts To Make Third NFL Roster
McSorley will officially try to make the old cliché “third time’s a charm” work for him. With New England, McSorley is aiming to latch onto his third NFL roster and, hopefully, stick around longer.
He managed to see three total games with the Ravens, but that was nearly three complete seasons in Charm City. McSorley spent most of the 2021 season on the practice squad while in a QB room featuring Lamar Jackson and another former first-rounder, Robert Griffin III. That November, however, the Cardinals signed McSorley off the Ravens’ practice squad.
McSorley managed to get one start in with Arizona last season. That was the Christmas Day defeat against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which saw McSorley finish 24 of 45 passing for 217 yards and one interception.
McSorley now heads to a place that has a former Penn State coach in offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Perhaps the Nittany Lions ties could rejuvenate his career. However, McSorley suddenly finds himself in competition for the final QB spot with undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham — who went from wide receiver experiment to returning to his old position.
McSorley, though, told the Boston media Tuesday that there’s “great cohesion” between him, Mac Jones, and Bailey Zappe. But now, McSorley has a chance to prove he can be an option in the Pats’ QB room starting with Thursday versus Houston.
