New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo offered an explanation as to why New England drafted former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III, after using the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Drake Maye.
Milton was drafted in the sixth round with the 193rd overall pick. He is coming off a season at Tennessee that saw him record 2,813 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He spent the last three seasons at Tennessee, after transferring from Michigan prior to the 2021 season.
He was drafted for his upside, as his cannon arm, size and running abilities certainly make him an interesting project player. He could be viewed as an option in case Drake Maye struggles with development.
The Patriots head coach dove into why the organization made the Milton selection, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire.
“Obviously, he understands we have a quarter — we took a quarterback at three with Drake (Maye),” Mayo said, when speaking on Milton. “One thing we preach is competition. Everything is about competition and nothing is given. All of it’s earned. And that’s how we thought about the process.”
The competition will certainly be interesting to watch, as New England has completely remade the quarterback room. Development of the room will be key over the next few months, as the new-look offense gets its bearings.