Coach Doesn’t Hold Back On New England Patriots’ Rookie QB

Having one of the strongest arms in the modern NFL (rivaling Josh Allen), New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III was a 2024 NFL Draft prospect receiving mixed reviews .

Some scouts were enamored by his rocket-like arm, while others were worried about his abilities to succeed in the short and medium passing game.

Dropping to the sixth round of the draft, the public opinion appeared to be out on Milton. The ability to throw an orange 100 yards didn’t get Milton drafted as highly as he probably would’ve liked, but he gets a chance to prove himself with the Patriots.

An obstacle ahead of Milton is the fact that Drake Maye —the third overall selection—is above him in the depth chart.

Maye comes into the NFL with a deep bag of traits as the third quarterback selected in the draft. While there’s a debate on whether he should’ve been drafted so high, there’s also a belief that he might’ve been the right choice a pick prior, when Washington selected Jayden Daniels .

However, something about Milton’s game got him drafted, regardless of when that pick was (he ended up getting chosen in the seventh round).

Coming in at 6-foot-5 and weighing 235 pounds, Milton is a linebacker of a quarterback. To put his size in perspective, Cam Newton was 6-foot-5, 245 pounds while in the league. Anthony Richardson —the No. 4 pick in 2023—is 6-foot-4, 244 pounds.

This quarterback build seems like a new theme, with the aforementioned Allen (6’5″, 237) and Richardson being two signal-callers who attack defenses with the ability to beat them through the air or on the ground while being the size of the linebackers who try to take them down.

Donovan Dooley, an NFL quarterbacks coach who works independently with some of the league’s top passers, remembers the first time he saw Milton and what he thought of him after just a glimpse ( h/t Sportskeeda ).

“When he got out of the car and was walking toward me on the field, he kept getting bigger and bigger. I said to myself, ‘This dude looks like an action figure.’”

Donovan Dooley on first time seeing Joe Milton III

However, there was more to like about Milton than his action-figure-like build.

Quarterbacks coach gives NFL warning on rookie QB Joe Milton III if potential is met

Dooley knew Milton’s game needed work, detailing the inconsistencies in his short-and-medium-game throws. However, as is true with all prospects who get drafted in the NFL, the development of a player with intangible traits can turn them into much more.

Allen is the classic example of this, but Allen was drafted significantly higher than Milton.

In New England, this is especially true.

Milton has a steep mountain to climb in order to start with the Patriots, given the quarterback room consisting of another rookie. However, if Milton develops the tools alongside his rocket arm, Dooley has a strong message for the NFL.

“If that [development] happens, well, somebody’s a** is going to be in trouble.”

Dooley on future for Joe Milton III if developed properly

While 31 other teams passed on the former Tennessee Volunteer, Milton has a boom-or-bust outcome in the NFL. There have been quarterbacks who enter the league with a strong arm and a dream, but the dream runs out before the strong arm has time to develop.

Given the money tossed around on quarterbacks in the NFL, the timer has started on Milton’s developmental clock. By the time his rookie contract is up, the Patriots will know if he is capable of reaching that next step.

If he is, they have an important decision to make, depending on the development Maye, who came into the NFL Draft with pro-ready characteristics himself.

The NFL is a cold business, but if Milton can improve upon his weaknesses coming into his rookie season, he could make a lot of teams regret not writing his name down on draft night.

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