New England Patriots’ Joe Milton Rules Out Position Switch as Crowded QB Room Remains

The New England Patriots selected two rookie quarterbacks during the 2024 NFL Draft – No.3 overall pick Drake Maye and sixth-round selection Joe Milton from Tennessee. While there have been discussions about a potential position change for Milton due to his running abilities, he has dismissed these rumors, stating that “you are the first person I’ve actually heard that from…But, that will never happen.”
Milton played college football with Michigan Wolverines before transferring to Tennessee in 2021. His time at Michigan was marred by injuries and underperformance, which were compounded by COVID-19 restrictions during his tenure there. Milton started for the Volunteers in their 2021 season but suffered an injury that saw Hendon Hooker take over as starting quarterback later on in the campaign. In 2023 (the only year he played at Tennessee), Milton recorded impressive statistics, throwing for a total of 2813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions across twelve games while also rushing for an additional 299 yards and seven scores on seventy-eight attempts.
Despite the crowded quarterbacks room in New England that includes Maye as well as veterans Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, and Nathan Rourke, Milton remains confident about his role within the team – one that doesn’t involve a position change to tight end or any other alternative positions. With limited playing time likely for him at this stage in his career with New England, he is not entertaining thoughts of finding an alternate route into game-time action elsewhere on the field.