Report: New England Patriots Rookie Refuses To Switch Position

They took Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in the draft. The team is expected to use him as their starting quarterback for the long term. However, they also took 24-year-old project quarterback Joe Milton III in the sixth round. Scouts have suggested the six-foot-five, 235-pound athlete could play another position on offense.

The Patriots are no strangers to converting quarterbacks to other positions. Last year, they signed Malik Cunningham as an undrafted rookie free agent. Cunningham played quarterback at Louisville in college and was used as a quarterback and wide receiver in New England before they released him in December.

Joe Milton III could be a better NFL TE than QB

According to Dane Brugler with The Athletic, Milton looks the part of an NFL quarterback, but he needs to polish his passing skills:

“A strong, mobile athlete, Milton has an absolute hose for an arm (in the mix for the strongest I have ever evaluated) and will make throws every game that gives evaluators hope. However, the lack of consistency with his decision-making and ball placement remains a pinnacle concern.

Overall, Milton has the physical tools that scream first-round pick, but his passing instincts and ability to read the field are undeveloped. He is a project quarterback prospect, and some teams believe he will eventually transition to tight end in the NFL (similar path as Logan Thomas).”

Milton’s best chance of seeing the game field for New England as a starter is by changing positions. With Maye expected to be the QB1, Milton would be his backup if he stayed at quarterback.

Milton doesn’t want to pay TE

According to Josh Alper with NBC Sports, Milton was asked about potentially changing his position to tight end in the NFL. Per a transcript by the Patriots, Milton said he would “never” play tight end:

“You are the first person I have actually heard that from, to be real with you. But, that will never happen,” Milton said, via a transcript from the team.

The Patriots tight end room is as stacked as their quarterback room. The Patriots have Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Mitchell Wilcox, Jaheim Bell, and La’Michael Pettway on their offseason tight end roster.

Could Milton beat out a roster from three of them?