A polarizing front-runner could be emerging in the Patriots’ plan to replace quarterback Tom Brady.

“They love Justin Herbert,” one general manager said of the Patriots, via NBC Sports’ Peter King.

The 22-year-old Oregon quarterback is projected to go as high as No. 2 overall behind LSU’s Joe Burrow, or fall to around No. 5 behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa.

The jury remains out on 6-foot-6, 237-pound Herbert, who many feel has the athleticism of a NFL quarterback, but may lack some of the leadership characteristics necessary to succeed in the league.

Still, with Tagovailoa’s injury risk, “multiple teams” now prefer Herbert “because of injuries and the unknowns,” according to NFL draft analyst Matt Miller.

The respect is mutual with Herbert, who says he “always looked up to” Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“I love their offense,” Herbert told King at the Combine.

The question remains if the Patriots’ infatuation is “enough to trade up for him,” as the rival GM posed, per King. Head coach Bill Belichick has been historically averse to trading up in drafts, and doing so would come at a steep price.

The Patriots own a bounty of 12 picks in this year’s draft including four compensatory picks. However, with just one first-round pick and no second-round pick, most of those are backloaded in rounds six and seven. The team would need the draft capital to move up at least 18 spots from No. 23, likely involving their 2021 first-round pick, which is a hefty price to stand a chance at securing Herbert.

Currently sitting atop the Patriots’ depth chart is 2019 fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham, who many believe is not ready to lead the team.

The 23-year-old from Auburn appeared in just three games in his rookie season and completed two of four pass attempts for 14 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception.

The Patriots find themselves in an unfamiliar and untenable financial position after Brady’s defection to the Buccaneers. They are carrying almost $23 million in dead cap liabilities for players no longer rostered, including a $13.5 million 2020 dead cap hit from Brady.

Despite the once-crowded quarterback free-agency market, the only QB addition they made was journeyman backup Brian Hoyer. Two former No. 1 overall picks, Jameis Winston and Cam Newton, remain unsigned. Any pursuit of those players will be hampered by the Patriots’ salary cap constraints.