I don’t want to be the Negative Nancy of the Patriots media, but some things need to be said. When Drake Maye was selected as the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots’ intentions were clear. It certainly wasn’t to create a quarterback competition with 24-year-old quarterback Joe Milton III, who was selected in the sixth round of the draft.
I also won’t deny how much Milton made headlines in Thursday night’s 17-3 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He did exactly what all college football fans expected him to do. He showed off his skills, made some great plays, and fooled Patriots fans into thinking they had a gem on their hands:
New England’s collective lack of college football knowledge makes the city an ideal destination for Joe Milton mania. pic.twitter.com/fjPKz4B5ZJ
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) 9 August 2024
JOE MILTON HAS ARRIVED ‼️
pic.twitter.com/5LH3d7COg2— PFF (@PFF) 9 August 2024
Meanwhile, Drake Maye only managed one drive and three pass attempts. Joe Milton III was really exciting on Thursday night. His athleticism and pure arm strength are undeniable. He isn’t called “Bazooka Joe” for nothing. But there are reasons why he was selected in the sixth round of the draft despite everything.
Draft analysis by Joe Milton III
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Here are some opinions from draft experts and college football pundits on Joe Milton III coming out of the University of Tennessee: “As a late-development quarterback option, Milton’s physical talent is certainly intriguing — but as a 24-year-old rookie, he has shown little evidence of decision-making and independence. In the NFL, quarterbacks have to be adaptable, and Milton’s shots in Tennessee were the exact opposite of that.” (Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network), “Joe Milton will be 24 years old when he enters the draft and is still an extremely inexperienced and underdeveloped prospect for the NFL. Milton’s throwing technique needs to be reworked, his accuracy and consistency need to be improved, and he needs to improve his decision-making all around. It’s going to be a tough sell to basically re-teach a 24-year-old how to play quarterback…” (Natalie Miller, Draft Wire).
He’s a huge project. Milton didn’t just show up in Foxboro and turn things around. I find it hard to believe he deserves quarterback attention after a single preseason game against the worst team in the NFL. That’s what Joe Milton does. He’s a highlight reel from practice. A thrill in preseason. But when it comes down to the games and he has to play conventionally, it’s ugly. That’s why Jim Harbaugh couldn’t make it work for him at Michigan. Wolverines fans laugh out loud when they hear the discussions about Milton.
Diploma
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I would strongly encourage you to enjoy the fun with Milton. It’s not often that you get an athletic freak like him to wreak havoc in the preseason. But let’s not overstate it. They didn’t just find the next best of all time in the sixth round again. Saying he would pressure your third overall pick for the right to be this franchise’s eventual QB1 is moronic. Milton’s NFL potential is limited. He will certainly never look better than he does in the NFL. Drake Maye is the quarterback of the future. We just have to wait for Jerod Mayo to give him that chance. Hopefully that happens next week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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