Patriots select Tennessee QB Joe Milton III with No. 193 overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots needed more than just one quarterback.

New England selected a second quarterback, spending a sixth-round pick (No. 193) on rocket-armed Tennessee signal-caller Joe Milton III on Saturday after taking UNC star Drake Maye at No. 3 overall two days earlier.

Milton’s leading attribute is obviously his arm. He owns an absolute cannon, firing majestic, high-arcing passes all over collegiate fields during his time with the Volunteers, but didn’t quite enjoy the return most expected from a quarterback operating in the same offense that saw Hendon Hooker throw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2022.

Despite the challenges, Milton managed to complete 64.7% of his passes for 2,813 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023. His exceptional performance in the first half of a late-October game against Alabama, where he threw two touchdown passes to help the Volunteers secure a 20-7 lead, was noteworthy. However, they eventually succumbed to the Crimson Tide. Milton and the Volunteers ended the season with an 8-4 record. With dreams of his strong arm impressing a team, Tennessee bid Milton farewell as he headed to the NFL. During the NFL Scouting Combine, he proudly displayed his abilities on the Lucas Oil Stadium field.

That team ended up being the Patriots, whose pick instantly inspired memories of Washington’s 2012 draft, in which the club selected Robert Griffin III second overall, then chose Kirk Cousins with the 102nd pick in the same draft.

Milton might not get the same opportunity that Cousins had in Washington previously. He will be joining New England as a backup player, firmly positioned behind Maye, who the Patriots chose to keep after refusing trade offers. This shows their strong belief in the talent from North Carolina.

Given that the quarterback is the sport’s most crucial position, adding a few young passers to the team is always beneficial. This is particularly true considering New England has struggled to find a dependable replacement since Tom Brady left. The Patriots are acknowledging this fact by choosing Milton.