Michigan State Football: Will Brian Lewerke get real shot with Patriots?

Former Michigan State football star Brian Lewerke recently was signed to an UDFA deal by the New England Patriots. Will he get a chance to compete?

It was pretty obvious that former Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke wasn’t going to get drafted. As much as me, and a lot of other wanted him to, it just wasn’t going to happen.

Ironically, not getting drafted may end up working better for Lewerke in the long run. He now enters a New England Patriots team that has its first open quarterback battle in almost two decades.

Lewerke is one amongst three other QB’s, including Jarrett Stidham, former MSU QB and current NFL journeyman Brian Hoyer, and another undrafted free agent, J’Mar Smith from Louisiana Tech. It’s pretty safe to say that no one has solidified the starting spot yet. Being an undrafted free agent (UDFA), Lewerke has a lot to prove to the New England coaching staff.

Lewerke’s time in East Lansing was a rollercoaster ride to say the least. His best season statistically was in 2019 where he put up 3,079 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. However, Michigan State as a team was average at best, going 7-6 on the season.

Many critics look to his sophomore campaign as his best season though. In 2017, Lewerke threw for 2,793 yards, 20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He took the Spartans to a 10-3 season, beating rivals Michigan and Penn State along the way. The future looked bright for the second-year quarterback, some people already considering him to be a top draft pick later down the line.

An injury-riddled junior season derailed any sort of top draft pick aspirations though. Battling a bum throwing shoulder the whole season, Lewerke put up only 2,040 yards through the air, throwing a mere eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

It wasn’t all his fault though. The coaching staff kept Lewerke in longer than they should have. By the time they took him out, the damage was already done, both to the team and the public perception on the junior quarterback.

With him being out of East Lansing, there’s a weight lifted off his shoulders. He has a new scenery in New England and can work from a new slate in the NFL. He doesn’t

Assuming the Patriots don’t end up acquiring veteran quarterbacks Andy Dalton from the Cincinnati Bengals, or free agent Cam Newton, Lewerke should have a true shot to compete for a roster spot, and potentially the starting job.