Patriots select quarterback Joe Milton in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 21: Joe Milton III #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Everybody knew coming into the 2024 NFL Draft the Patriots were going to select at least one quarterback. Not many projected two, but that’s exactly what they did.
With the 193rd overall pick, the Patriots drafted Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton. This is the pick the team got in exchange for trading quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason.
Milton, who is one of the older prospects in the draft having turned 24 back in March, comes into the NFL as one of the most unique prospects in this draft. Milton’s arm strength is unmatched, something he put on display repeatedly during his career and pre-draft process. He also is a factor as a runner, and is a real problem for tacklers in the open field at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds.
Despite that, Milton didn’t have a full-time starting job during his first five college seasons at Michigan and Tennessee. Last year he started 12 games for the Tennessee Volunteers, going 8-4 while completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,769 with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 292 yards and six touchdowns.
In New England, Milton will compete for a backup quarterback job initially. Jacoby Brissett first-round pick Drake Maye are likely roster locks, leaving Milton, Bailey Zappe, and Nathan Rourke competing for a third and maybe fourth spot.
The Patriots have one pick left in this draft. They’re scheduled to pick 231st overall.
Read more…
Drafting Drake Maye isn't the end of a process for the Patriots, it's the beginning
The New England Patriots finally have their new quarterback. On Thursday night, the team drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye third overall, making him the organization’s latest attempt at finding their next franchise quarterback.
For many fans, this pick probably feels like the end of a long, arduous process. That began with watching these quarterbacks play back in October after the Patriots themselves got off to a 1-5, and then 2-8 start before the bye, and continued throughout the pre-draft process during the spring.
—Drake Maye is exactly the kind of quarterback the Patriots needed to gamble on
—Ranking the biggest needs on the Patriots’ roster
—Full Patriots coverage
In a sense, yes this is the end of an expansive process. But it’s also the beginning of one. Choosing the right quarterback is only half the battle – now the team has to develop him.
So often leading up to the draft, prospects (especially quarterbacks) are talked about in a bubble. Will a player be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in the NFL is a common question, when in reality, it’s much more complicated than that.
Drafting the right player is only half the battle, the team also has to put that player in a position to succeed. There have been good prospects who went to bad situations and saw their potential impact lessened or their careers outright derailed. There are even some examples of lesser prospects who were elevated by good surroundings.
Thursday night, the Patriots took care of the first half of the battle. Maye is a high-ceiling player with a big arm, great size, toughness, and mobility at the quarterback position. He has plenty of tools that simply aren’t coachable. But now, it’s up to the Patriots’ organization to continue on the process and fill in the rest. This pick is a vote of confidence in the re-built offensive coaching staff and front office, and now it’s the staff’s turn to deliver.
What does that look like? There are multiple angles at play here. What we can do is use the Patriots’ failed development of Mac Jones – who they selected in the first round in 2021 – as a guide. What do the Patriots need to do differently this time around? We’ll narrow in on some key areas.
Before we start though let me be clear about something. Some parts of this may come off as a defense of Jones. It isn’t. He isn’t without blame for the Patriots’ past three years, and Maye comes into the NFL with substantially more physical tools than he did. But the Patriots had their missteps in his development as well, and that’s what we’ll be looking at here.
Alex Barth is a digital content producer and on-air host for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Barth grew up in the Boston area and began covering both the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox in 2017 before joining the Hub in 2020. He now covers all things Boston Sports for 985TheSportsHub.com as well as appearing on air. Alex writes about all New England sports, as well as college football. You can follow him across all social media platforms at @RealAlexBarth.