FOXBOROUGH – For many reasons, the Patriots wanted to get a look at Joe Milton III, and see what their 2024 sixth-round quarterback looked like in a game.
Leading the scout team at practice is one thing, facing opponents in an actual game is another.
The Patriots wanted to see if was Milton capable of being Drake Maye’s backup next year. Or, if he’d show well enough draw interest in a trade.
Milton accomplished both missions with his performance in the 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in the season finale. There was even one report Monday suggesting the Patriots had already fielded inquiries from teams looking to acquire the quarterback.
Beyond that, one other important question was answered.
The one Milton had of himself. He was hoping to get into a game, and while he’s a confident kid, he needed to see how he would fare, rubber stamp his own belief in himself.
“It was important for me to get that done this season,” Milton said Monday. “That’s what I wanted to do my rookie season. Just live and learn for a little bit at the beginning. And then, at the end, if I had my chance, if it ever presented itself, I was going to show up and show out. That’s what I always told myself … just play ball out there.”
That, he did. Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards. He threw a touchdown, and ran for one. He excited the crowd with the backflip he did in the end zone after his first TD. He also showed off his rocket arm. There were several ‘wow’ moments with him rifling throws.
Mostly, Milton showed how much he had progressed and developed from training camp and the preseason. His footwork, accuracy and quarterback play in general had improved. Like Maye, he developed well under offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and QB coach T.C. McCartney.
Milton said he was Inundated with texts from friends and others congratulating him on his performance. He said he had to give his phone “a bit of cool-down time” after the flood of texts.
Given the fact head coach Jerod Mayo was fired immediately after the game, and fans being upset the Patriots lost the first overall pick by beating Buffalo, Milton said it was tough to completely wrap his head around the whole experience.
“I really don’t know how to feel to be honest,” he said. “It’s still kind of a shock. I’m still trying to process everything that happened, and everything I done (Sunday).”
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