Patriots See Big Potential in Joe Milton III: 'Developing at a Pretty Good Rate

FOXBOROUGH — While Drake Maye garners plenty of attention, another rookie quarterback has quietly been improving, too.

Patriots coaches are pleased with Joe Milton III’s development. A sixth-rounder out of Tennessee, Milton spends game days as New England’s emergency third quarterback, but during the week he runs the scout team offense and that’s gone very well. After wins, Patriots coaches award “practice players of the week,” and Milton is 3-for-3 in earning that honor.

Jerod Mayo believes Milton is starting to see the results of the work he’s been putting in.

“You talk about a guy who is developing at a pretty good rate, it’s Joe,” Mayo said on Friday morning. “We all know he can throw the ball down the field, but his progressions and things like that have definitely gotten better, and he’ll be a solid player in this league.”

“He’s for sure gotten better and better,” quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney concurred.

At 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, Milton is hyper-athletic. During his time at Tennessee, Milton ran for 505 yards and nine touchdowns. Having that dual-threat ability has been helpful for the Patriots defense as Milton mimics opposing quarterbacks on the practice field.

“Being able to have a guy who can run with the ball and do all those things is definitely beneficial,” Mayo said. “In saying that, we also play quarterbacks – not as much as we used to – that just sit in the pocket, but he’s able to do that as well. So, I think just that versatility, that growth and development in doing that and emulating the other quarterback has been good for him.”

Asked where he’s seen the most growth from Milton, McCartney offered an unexpected answer.

“Calling plays in the huddle, McCartney said. “That’s a hard skill.”

McCartney explained that Milton had a little background doing that at Michigan, but he wasn’t asked to do so once he transferred to Tennessee. It’s largely a new thing for Milton that has required plenty of homework off the field.

“We have long calls. You have to really study. You have to really put a lot of work in,” McCartney said. “And he’s done that.”