When head coach Jerod Mayo began his process of potentially finding the New England Patriots next quarterback, he believed the NFL Draft could produce a trio of options. Now further along into his process, that list has grown.

“When I first started watching these guys, it was a three-man race,” Mayo told reporters Monday morning at the NFL’s annual league meetings in Orlando, Florida.

“As you continue to go to these Pro Days and bring guys in on the 30 visits, having time to spend with those guys to really get to know what makes them tick, it’s about five guys honestly that could come in and be a solid quarterback in the future.”

As Mayo and his staff continue to work through the evaluations of each quarterback, they are leaving all options on the table. While the position remains the biggest hole on the roster, forcing the pick is where teams can get in trouble. That leaves the door open to a potential trade down which would allow New England to add additional assets to try and fill several holes.