The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-16 in the season’s last game, which saw both teams rely heavily on their bench and backup quarterbacks. However, one aspect of the otherwise uneventful game stood out: the outstanding play of Patriots backup quarterback Joe Milton.
“Looks like we lucked out, we maybe have two quarterbacks,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft in reference to Milton’s accuracy, ability to make plays with his legs, and general athleticism.
In his remarks, Kraft mentioned Drake Maye, who seems to be the team’s future quarterback, and Milton, a Tennessee native selected 193rd overall in the Patriots’ 2024 sixth-round draft.
The Patriots used their third overall pick in the 2024 draft to select Maye, who led the ACC in passing yardsage twice during his three seasons at North Carolina, following their 4-13 2023 campaign.
In Week Six against the Houston Texans, Maye replaced veteran Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback for New England and never let go, putting up strong enough play to be considered for the Pro Bowl as an alternate.
Milton Opened Eyes With Season-Capping QB Outing
However, Maye started and played the Patriots’ opening sequence in the otherwise pointless season finale against Buffalo before sitting down and making room for Milton.
The former Volunteer went on to complete 76 percent of his passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, earning him 2023 Orange Bowl MVP honors in a 31-14 thumping of Clemson. Milton finished with a passer rating of 111.4 after running for a touchdown and committing no turnovers.
Milton once sidearmed a pass into the end zone that, if not for a Patriots penalty, would have resulted in a touchdown. However, what stood out most was that the toss was thrown at 62 mph, which is the second-highest velocity of any pass ever recorded in the NFL.
As long as he stays healthy, Maye appears to have a firm hold on the starting position in Foxborough, so Milton’s shocking performance immediately sparked speculation that the Patriots might trade Milton to add much-needed draft capital.
NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Brian Baldinger backed up that opinion Thursday while he was in Mobile, Alabama, evaluating practices for Saturday’s Senior Bowl, a college All-Star game that showcases NFL prospects.
Baldinger: Milton a Better Option Than Any Senior Bowl QB
Baldinger stated that teams should attempt to acquire Milton rather than adding a signal caller through the draft because he was dissatisfied with the quarterback prospects he saw in the Senior Bowl.
According to the Tennessee Volunteers website SI.com, Baldinger stated, “After watching some of these guys at the Senior Bowl, I might think Joe Milton is my very best option if I’m looking for a quarterback right now.” “If you pull the strings and bargain with the Patriots for his services, you might just be doing some backflips.”
In passing, Milton has already been connected to a number of teams seeking to replace or add a quarterback. The Cleveland Browns might be Milton’s most likely trade destination because quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is currently injured and embroiled in scandal, may be leaving, leaving only fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a member of the practice squad, and former Patriots backup Bailey Zappe to take over.