Patriots could ‘likely consider’ trading promising rookie QB

Trading Joe Milton isn’t off the table for the Patriots, according to a team insider

New England Patriots rookie quarterback Joe Milton III has generated some buzz due to his performance in the regular season finale against the Buffalo Bills back in January.

NFL insider Brian Baldinger suggested him as an option this year for quarterback-needy teams in the league. However, the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard took things a step further by saying the Patriots might consider trading the former sixth-round draft pick.

“I thought the Patriots would hold off on entertaining a trade of Joe Milton, who was drafted in the sixth round (193rd overall) last year, for at least another season, but there’s increasing belief around the NFL that the Patriots are at least contemplating a trade of Milton this offseason,” Bedard wrote, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Adam London. “Again, I’m not saying he’s on the block right now, but the Patriots will likely consider it when everything settles with the front office and coaching staff.”

Bedard noted that “some league executives” believe the Patriots could come away with a third-round draft pick in a potential trade involving Milton. Patriots Wire’s Jordy McElroy suggested the same value in an earlier trade opinion piece on the former University of Tennessee quarterback.

Milton impressed against the Bills by going 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown. He showed off his strong arm and ability to extend plays with his legs.

The market for Milton could be high in a year when the pool of quarterbacks in the draft isn’t the deepest. He could be a valuable asset in the Patriots’ ongoing rebuild.

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NFL insider suggests teams consider trading for Patriots QB

NFL insider believes QB-needy teams should call the Patriots about Joe Milton III

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III opened some eyes in the regular season finale game against the Buffalo Bills.

NFL insider Brian Baldinger even went as far as suggesting quarterback-needy teams should consider giving the Patriots a call when breaking down Milton’s film from that game.

The University of Tennessee product went 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown. He showed a combination of his mobility and strong arm in a game where he confused the Bills’ defense.

His strong performance raised questions about what the Patriots could get for him in a hypothetical trade. Patriots Wire’s Jordy McElroy touched on the subject and suggested that a second or even third-round pick could be a solid return for Milton.

In Baldinger’s estimation, Milton could be a tremendous asset for a team.

“If I was a quarterback-needy team and I was evaluating all of the quarterbacks, down to Senior Bowl, pro days, combine, I might think Joe Milton is my best option,” said Baldinger.

There are no guarantees Jacoby Brissett will return in 2025, and the Patriots could be down to Drake Maye and Milton. It might take quite an enticing offer for the Patriots to move on from the 24-year-old signal-caller.

Trade speculation aside, it’s clear that the Patriots have something special brewing in their quarterback room.

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Should Steelers show interest in Patriots Joe Milton trade rumors?

Could Joe Milton III be the Pittsburgh Steelers next trade target if the Patriots make him available in 2025?

The Pittsburgh Steelers proved in 2024 that they wouldn’t shy away from big offseason quarterback trades—another may soon present itself in 2025.

One scenario that may pique the team’s interest involves the New England Patriots, who have their franchise signal-caller in QB Drake Maye. The team also has an immensely talented young quarterback in Joe Milton III, who has recently been linked to trade rumors.

Despite selecting Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots later selected Milton with the No. 193 overall pick in the sixth round. Milton’s rise in popularity began this past preseason when he proved his talent was far greater than his draft position suggested.

Milton added another incredible performance to his resume when he threw for 241 passing yards and two total touchdowns in Week 18, leading his team to an impressive 23-16 victory over the Bills.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers choose to move forward with the aging QB Russell Wilson in 2025, trading a fourth-round draft selection to acquire and develop Milton may prove beneficial to the Black and Gold’s future.

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What could Patriots get in trade for QB Joe Milton III?

Joe Milton III will either be a solid backup or potential trade bait for the Patriots

There are plenty of quarterback-needy NFL teams eagerly anticipating the 2025 NFL draft, but the depth of talent at the position isn’t nearly as loaded as it was last season.

One has to wonder where New England Patriots rookie backup quarterback Joe Milton III would rank on the board if he came out this year.

The top two options are expected to be Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. But knowing what we know now from Milton, it isn’t a stretch to think he’d be one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft.

That puts the Patriots in a unique position of already having a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and quite possibly another top-tier option in Milton. There are currently two options for the Patriots: keep Milton as insurance for Maye, or look to move him for draft picks.

If their phone starts ringing with suitors in a Milton trade, what kind of draft compensation would the Patriots potentially be looking at for the former Tennessee quarterback?

The Patriots invested a sixth-round pick in Milton, so a second or even third-round draft pick in return would be a major win for the team. Perhaps a team is even desperate enough to tack on one or two late-rounders in there as well.

There should be no rush to trade Milton considering he’s still early in his rookie deal, and it makes sense to have another young quarterback option in the pipeline for emergencies.

But teams could tempt them ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Milton looked exceptional under center in the preseason, and he helped the team snap a six-game losing streak against the Buffalo Bills in the season finale.

Granted, the Bills didn’t play their starters, but Milton flashed serious promise in the game by going 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.

He has the prototypical size and one of the strongest arms in the NFL. There were questions regarding his accuracy and decision-making under center in college, but neither has looked like an issue in games at the next level.

Whether Milton stays or goes, he is a player who could end up helping the Patriots in a big way.

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QB Joe Milton responds to Patriots fans angry at team for not tanking

Joe Milton comments on the team’s refusal to tank for the No. 1 draft pick

The New England Patriots have been called out consistently for beating the Buffalo Bills in the season finale and losing the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft.

Quarterback Joe Milton III, who played for most of the game, went on his Instagram Live and responded to the noise from frustrated fans.

“I ain’t played football since preseason. If y’all was in my shoes and y’all was given an opportunity to go play, why would you go out there and not show up and show out?” said Milton. “Why would I go out there? So y’all can talk about me if I lose? Ya’ll want me to go out there and lose and ya’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’m glad he lost so he can get traded.’ And then what? Make that make sense.” 

Milton played at a high level against the Bills going 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown. He also tacked on a rushing touchdown in a game where he finished with a 75.9 completion percentage.

His performance was a big reason why the Patriots were able to come away with the 23-16 victory. Unfortunately, the win moved them down the draft board to the No. 4 overall pick.

With that said, Milton was simply playing for his job and position on the team. It’s the same with every player on the field in the NFL. It comes with the territory of competing in a performance-based league.

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Patriots QB Joe Milton III nominated for Rookie of the Week award

Patriots QB Joe Milton III nominated for Rookie of the Week

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III was nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award for Week 18.

Milton joined a group of nominees that also includes Nate Wiggins of the Baltimore Ravens, Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, Mike Sainristil of the Washington Commanders, Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Bucky Irving of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Milton played well in his first appearance in an NFL regular season game. He tallied 241 passing yards and a touchdown on 22-of-29 passing attempts. A 48-yard pass was his longest of the afternoon. He also rushed for a touchdown in the game.

Milton was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He came to New England from Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for his incredible athleticism and strong arm.

Those traits carried over in a stellar performance on the NFL stage. Milton showed his potential, and it could ultimately lead to a bigger role in the quarterback room moving forward.

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Derek Barnett, Joe Milton help Titans secure No. 1 NFL draft pick

Former Vols Derek Barnett and Joe Milton III help the Tennessee Titans secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Two former Vols competed Sunday in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season. Their team’s results helped the Titans (3-14) secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Houston (10-7) defeated Tennessee (3-14), 32-27, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Former Vol defensive lineman Derek Barnett totaled four tackles, one tackle for a loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery touchdown for the Texans.

New England (4-13) defeated Buffalo (13-4), 23-16, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Quarterback Joe Milton III completed 22-of-29 passing attempts for 241 yards and one touchdown for the Patriots. He also recorded 16 yards and one touchdown on 10 rushing attempts.

Milton III made his first NFL start for New England.

New England’s victory, combined with Tennessee’s loss, helped the Titans secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

PHOTOS: Tennessee starting quarterbacks through the years

Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images

WATCH: Joe Milton III throws a laser 48-yard touchdown pass

Joe Milton ripped a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III got off to a strong start on Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Bills.

After scoring a rushing touchdown, he scored his second touchdown of the game through the air on a connection with second-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

Milton scrambled out of the pocket, kept his eyes downfield and delivered a strike to a wide open Boutte, who ran it into the end zone for six more points on the board. The rookie backup has quickly established his ability to create plays when things break down around him.

It’s a plus considering things breaking down has been a common occurrence behind the Patriots’ offensive line.

Along with Milton, Boutte should also be commended for another big play on offense. It was his third touchdown of the season for the struggling Patriots unit.

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WATCH: Patriots QB Joe Milton III scores first NFL touchdown vs Bills

Joe Milton III scored the first touchdown of his NFL career against the Bills

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

The rookie quarterback ran it in from a yard out to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead following the extra point.

It was a drive that saw Milton execute at a high level throughout, going 6-of-6 passing for 51 yards. Wideout Demario Douglas was one of the primary targets on the drive, as he caught two passes for 19 yards. Running back Antonio Gibson also caught two passes on the drive for 15 yards.

It was a tone-setting drive for the Patriots following a week where they were shut down offensively by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Milton is making a case to be the No. 2 option at quarterback for the Patriots in 2025. The rookie looks like he might be ready to move up the depth chart.

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Latest update on Patriots QB Joe Milton hints to Week 18 game status

Joe Milton III took some starter reps at practice on Wednesday. But what does that mean for his Week 18 game status?

When meeting with media members on Thursday, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt revealed that rookie quarterback Joe Milton III received some starting snaps at practice on Wednesday, via NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry.

That could mean Milton will potentially have a spot on the game-day roster for Sunday’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills. Whether he has an opportunity to play or not remains to be seen.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said the team plans on starting Drake Maye on Wednesday, but the rookie quarterback has been limited with an injury to his right hand. The injury isn’t expected to keep him out, but it is something to monitor in the lead-up and during the game on Sunday.

Milton has yet to take a regular season snap, and it would benefit the Patriots to see what they have in the sixth-round draft pick in live game action.

There are no certainties that veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will return for another season, and Milton could be moved up as the No. 2 option for the team.

The patriots need to decide if they’re comfortable with Milton in that role or if they need to consider bringing in another veteran, if not attempting to extend Brissett in the offseason.

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