FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots chosen College of Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III within the sixth spherical of the NFL draft Saturday, double-dipping on the place after choosing North Carolina’s Drake Maye third total.
Milton acknowledged he was considerably shocked to listen to from the Patriots at choose No. 193 however stated it was nonetheless particular to obtain phrase from the group given the adversity he stated he has confronted over his profession.
“I had all of the [NFL] hats laid out. You simply by no means know the place you are going to find yourself. I used to be simply ready on any telephone name,” he instructed reporters on a videoconference. “It is a blessing, for certain.”
The 6-foot-5, 246-pound Milton stated all of his conversations with the Patriots have been about enjoying quarterback. Some draft analysts puzzled if groups would possibly think about him as a good finish, however Milton stated bluntly: “That can by no means occur.”
The Patriots now have 5 quarterbacks on their roster, led by veteran Jacoby Brissett, who had signed a one-year contract price $8 million in March. Maye is the hopeful quarterback of the longer term, with Milton, 2022 fourth-round choose Bailey Zappe and second-year participant Nathan Rourke additionally on the depth chart.
“Simply the chance. I really feel like in every single place you go, it doesn’t matter what quarterback received chosen on this draft, you are going to must compete,” stated Milton, who relayed that he had developed a reference to Maye effectively earlier than the draft, as they first met at a Peyton Manning-run camp earlier than the season. “Nothing is simply given to you irrespective of who you’re. That is what I am wanting ahead to do.”
The choose used to pick out Milton had been acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in March in change for former starter and first-round choose Mac Jones.
This marks simply the second time in group historical past that the Patriots chosen two quarterbacks in a draft. The opposite time got here in 1983 with Tony Eason and Tom Ramsey.
As well as, New England grew to become simply the fourth group since 2000 to draft a quarterback after additionally taking one within the first spherical. The others are Pittsburgh with Kenny Pickett and Chris Oladokun in 2022, Washington with Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins in 2012, and Indianapolis with Andrew Luck and Chandler Harnish in 2012.
“We’re within the enterprise of attempting to get good soccer gamers by the door, and Milton occurs to be one in every of them,” Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo stated. “Clearly, he understands we took a quarterback at 3, with Drake. One factor we preach is competitors. Nothing is given. All of it’s earned. That is how we thought in regards to the course of.”
Requested if the Patriots would think about using Milton in spots aside from quarterback, Mayo stated: “We’ll must see how that type of performs out as soon as we put the pads on, however we drafted him as a quarterback.”
Milton, 24, spent three seasons at Michigan, largely sitting behind starter Shea Patterson earlier than beginning 5 video games in 2020 after which being changed by Cade McNamara. He transferred to Tennessee in 2021, beginning the primary two video games in his preliminary season earlier than injuring his ankle. Hendon Hooker took the quarterback reins for the remainder of the yr and into 2022.
Milton did not reemerge till the ultimate two video games of 2022, when Hooker suffered a knee damage. The strong-armed Milton was named MVP of the Orange Bowl after going 19-of-28 for 251 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Clemson. He then returned because the starter in 2023, making the most of an additional yr of eligibility as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
In 12 begins final season, he was 229-of-354 for two,813 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He added 78 rushes for 299 yards and 7 touchdowns.
His 20 landing passes traveled a median of 21.2 yards downfield, the second highest in FBS amongst quarterbacks with 20 landing passes, trailing solely Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (25.4).
From 2021 to ’23, Milton had 17 move makes an attempt of no less than 50 air yards. No different FBS participant had greater than 9 over that span.
Summing up his journey on Saturday, Milton stated: “It is a fantastic second. I am just about speechless at this level.”
Milton grew to become the primary Tennessee participant chosen by the Patriots since Mayo, their former linebacker and now coach, in 2008 (No. 10 total).
“It is nice to at all times have two ‘VFLs’ within the constructing, particularly while you’re some place else aside from Knoxville,” Milton stated, referencing the motto “Volunteer for Life.”
“Only for us to reconnect, get to know one another, it may be nice.”