Beat writer explains why Patriots took two QBs in 2024 NFL Draft

Some fans are still questioning why the New England Patriots made Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III a sixth-round draft pick last month shortly after the club took North Carolina Tar Heels signal-caller Drake Maye via the third overall choice of the player-selection process. 

Patriots beat writer Chris Mason of MassLive addressed the subject for a mailbag published on Friday.

"New England’s quarterback room wasn’t the world’s most harmonious place over the past two seasons, so I think [head coach Jerod Mayo] is looking for a fresh start," Mason explained. "They’ve already traded Mac Jones and cut Nathan Rourke, and I’d be surprised to see Bailey Zappe on the 53-man roster when Week 1 rolls around. With Maye, [veteran Jacoby Brissett] and Milton, the depth chart will be well-populated with new blood."

Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf recently said that Milton had "too much talent in him to pass that up." That's all well and good but it ignores the fact that Milton may not take a meaningful snap with the Patriots anytime soon. 

Mayo plans to let Maye compete with Brissett for the starting job this summer even though some believe the rookie should develop as a backup through at least a portion of the upcoming season. 

If Mayo and Co. decide in September that Maye isn't ready to face live defenses, Zappe could be needed as a "break-glass-in-case-of-emergency" option if Brissett goes down with some sort of setback. 

Not long after the Patriots drafted Milton, he somewhat defiantly dismissed the idea that he could change positions during springtime workouts and/or training camp. Mason thinks Milton could have second thoughts about such a stance between now and Week 1. 

"Milton clocked a 4.62-second 40-yard dash, he can broad jump over 10 feet, and has [a] wingspan that measures 80 inches," Mason wrote. "Though he may be reluctant to move off quarterback to start, perhaps he’ll change his mind if it’s a way to get onto the field."

Many think Maye should sit behind Brissett this fall because the Patriots have noticeable weaknesses on their offensive line and at receiver. 

While there's often nothing wrong with a team using a late-round draft pick on somebody who could one day become merely a backup quarterback, April 2024 may not have been the right time for New England to go down such a road.