Joe Milton III vs Drake Maye Isn’t a Serious Conversation

I hate to be the Negative Nancy of the Patriots media, but some things need to be said. When Drake Maye was taken with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots’ intentions were clear. It certainly wasn’t to entertain a quarterback competition with a sixth-round draft choice 24-year-old quarterback Joe Milton III.

I’m also not here to deny just how much of a highlight reel Milton was on Thursday night’s 17-3 preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers. He did just what all college football fans expected of him. To show out, make some big plays, and also sucker Patriots fans into thinking they have a gem on their hands:

New England’s collective lack of college football knowledge makes it the ideal mark for Joe Milton Mania. pic.twitter.com/fjPKz4B5ZJ

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 9, 2024

JOE MILTON HAS ARRIVED ‼️
pic.twitter.com/5LH3d7COg2

— PFF (@PFF) August 9, 2024

Meanwhile, Drake Maye only saw one drive and three pass attempts. Look, Joe Milton III sure was exciting on Thursday night. There’s no denying his athleticism and his pure arm strength. They don’t call him “Bazooka Joe” for nothing. But, there are reasons why he was a sixth-round draft choice despite that.

Joe Milton III’s Draft Analysis

Here are some of the Draft Experts and College Football brainiacs’ take on Joe Milton III as he was coming out of the University of Tennessee: “As a late-round developmental QB option, Milton’s physical talent does produce intrigue — but as a 24-year-old rookie, he’s shown very little as a processor and independent decision-maker. In the NFL, QBs need to be adaptable, and Milton’s tape at Tennessee was the antithesis of that.” (Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network), “Joe Milton is going to be 24 years old when he enters the draft and is still an extremely raw and underdeveloped prospect for the NFL. Milton’s throwing mechanics need an overhaul, his accuracy and consistency need work, and he needs to expand all around in his decision-making. It’s going to be a tough selling point to essentially attempt to re-teach a 24-year-old how to play quarterback…” (Natalie Miller, Draft Wire).

He’s a huge project. Milton didn’t just show up in Foxboro and turn a corner. I find it hard to believe that after one preseason game against the worst team in the NFL, he’s deserving of the QB1 chatter. This is what Joe Milton does. He’s a practice highlight reel. A preseason thrill. But when the games count, and he needs to play conventionally, it’s ugly. It’s why Jim Harbaugh couldn’t make it work for him in Michigan. Wolverines fans actively laugh when they see the discourse going on with Milton.

Conclusion

I actively encourage you to enjoy the fun with Milton. It’s not often you get an athletic freak such as this to wreak havoc in the preseason. But let’s not go overboard here. You didn’t just find the next greatest of all time in the sixth round again. Arguing that he’s pushing your third overall pick for the right to be the eventual QB1 of this franchise is asinine. Milton’s potential for the NFL is capped. This is all but certainly the best he’ll ever look in the NFL. Drake Maye is the quarterback of the future. We just have to wait for Jerod Mayo to give him that opportunity. Here’s to hoping that comes next week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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