The New England Patriots selected Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III with the 17th pick in the sixth round (No. 193 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday evening.
It marks the second straight year that a Tennessee quarterback has been selected in the NFL Draft after the Detroit Lions selected Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Milton had a topsy turvy college career. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback started his college career at Michigan before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season. Milton won the starting job ahead of the 2021 season but struggled early on.
When Milton suffered an injury early in the season, Hendon Hooker replaced him and didn’t look back proving to be the Vols’ best quarterback since Peyton Manning. Milton waited his turn, serving as Hooker’s backup in 2022 before becoming the starter again in the 2023 season.
The Pahokee, Florida native had an underwhelming 2023 season as Tennessee football’s starting quarterback. Milton completed 65% of his passes for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions while starting all 12 regular season games.
However, Tennessee’s passing offense took a major step back after losing star receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman combined with Milton replacing Hooker.
Milton won the respect and admiration of his teammates and was one of the most popular players on the team as one of the main leaders on the Vols’ 9-4 (4-4 SEC) 2024 team.
Despite a lackluster season, Milton remained a NFL Draft prospect because of his massive arm that’s one of the best in the 2024 NFL Draft. Milton is a major project but his natural talent but it made him someone that the Patriots wanted to take a chance on. In New England, Milton joins a quarterback room that includes Drake Maye— the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Milton becomes the second Tennessee football player taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining running back Jaylen Wright.
