The move came after the team selected two quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye third overall and Joe Milton in round six. The Pats signed veteran Jacoby Brissett in free agency, giving him $5 million USD in guaranteed money on a one-year contract. Bailey Zappe, who started games last season, currently has a spot on the roster.
Rourke was claimed off waivers by the Patriots on Dec. 18, 2023, after he was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars and dressed for the final three games of the season. He was New England’s primary backup for their regular season finale but did not see game action. The six-foot-two, 209-pound QB earned $519,668 USD in his first NFL season.
New England has undergone significant changes this offseason, parting ways with legendary head coach Bill Belichick after a 4-13 campaign. Jerod Mayo, the brother of former CFL linebacker Deron Mayo, has since taken over as head coach.
In January, Rourke said: “I’m in it for the long run. I know I can play in the NFL and can be a starter.” If he does ever decide to come back north of the border, the dual-threat QB would be a CFL free agent.
He would be great get for Hamilton They could wave Bow…
Rourke has enough talent to bounce around practice rosters at the very least and even get called on as a third stringer in the NFL for the next two years. He is still only 25. No rush for him to get back in my opinion. If things don’t go his way he may choose to come back late in 2025 but more likely for 2026. There will always be a spot for him in the CFL and he’d be in his prime athletically at that point.
