Total Pro Sports
The New England Patriots’ 2024 depth chart featured three new faces after a dismal 2023 campaign: Rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III and the return of veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett.
It was Brissett (his career began with the Patriots in 2016) who opened the season as the starter. But then-head coach Jerod Mayo gave up after five frustrating starts and handed the keys over to Maye, who made 12 starts. Milton III got limited playing time in the team’s Week 18 finale against the Buffalo Bills.
With Brissett slated to hit free agency, it will leave Joe Milton and Drake Maye as the only QBs on the depth chart. And it sounds like new head coach Mike Vrabel and de facto GM Eliot Wolf are considering a deal involving the big-armed Tennessee product.
According to Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, the Patriots are “toying” with the idea of trading Joe Milton.
Just In: The #Patriots are “toying” with the idea of making QB Joe Milton available via trade, per @GregABedard
Milton has the potential to be a star QB1. pic.twitter.com/aF0XmWddrN
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 25, 2025
Milton showed promise in his NFL debut against Buffalo, though the Bills rested key starters with the AFC’s No. 2 seed locked up. Milton completed 22 of 29 pass attempts for 241 yards, a touchdown, no picks and one rushing score.
Like I said before, the tank is going straight to hell right now but Joe Milton's arm is INSANE! LMAO! 🚀🔥 pic.twitter.com/nOGCIDho0Z
— 🏆🥇 (@fsh733) January 5, 2025
The Patriots drafted Milton in the sixth round (193rd overall) after a dazzling final year at Tennessee that saw him through for 2,813 yards and 20 touchdowns to go along with 299 rushing yards and seven rushing scores.
Milton has an enticing skill set as a dual-threat QB, but he was a sixth-round pick for a reason despite a superb final year at Tennesee: Most scouts and coaches are obviously skeptical about his style of play working in the NFL.
So if New England were to trade Milton, they would be lucky to get anything better than a fifth-round pick for him. But with Maye locking down the starting job, Milton should welcome a change of scenery.
