There are plenty of quarterback-needy NFL teams eagerly anticipating the 2025 NFL draft, but the depth of talent at the position isn’t nearly as loaded as it was last season.
One has to wonder where New England Patriots rookie backup quarterback Joe Milton III would rank on the board if he came out this year.
The top two options are expected to be Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. But knowing what we know now from Milton, it isn’t a stretch to think he’d be one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft.
That puts the Patriots in a unique position of already having a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and quite possibly another top-tier option in Milton. There are currently two options for the Patriots: keep Milton as insurance for Maye, or look to move him for draft picks.
If their phone starts ringing with suitors in a Milton trade, what kind of draft compensation would the Patriots potentially be looking at for the former Tennessee quarterback?
The Patriots invested a sixth-round pick in Milton, so a second or even third-round draft pick in return would be a major win for the team. Perhaps a team is even desperate enough to tack on one or two late-rounders in there as well.
There should be no rush to trade Milton considering he’s still early in his rookie deal, and it makes sense to have another young quarterback option in the pipeline for emergencies.
But teams could tempt them ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Milton looked exceptional under center in the preseason, and he helped the team snap a six-game losing streak against the Buffalo Bills in the season finale.
Granted, the Bills didn’t play their starters, but Milton flashed serious promise in the game by going 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
He has the prototypical size and one of the strongest arms in the NFL. There were questions regarding his accuracy and decision-making under center in college, but neither has looked like an issue in games at the next level.
Whether Milton stays or goes, he is a player who could end up helping the Patriots in a big way.