New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke with media members at a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday. Near the end, he was asked why the team made the decision to trade second-year backup quarterback Joe Milton III.
Drake Maye is obviously the starting quarterback in New England, but Milon seemed to create enough intrigue that the team would want to keep him around. Even if the idea wasn’t to push Maye, Milton could have been a serviceable backup for the Patriots.
“We felt like his reps were gonna be decreased as we worked through the offseason,” Vrabel said. “And we felt like, just like every other decision, we’re gonna try to do what’s best for the team, and that’s the decision that we ultimately made. I’m excited to move forward with Drake and Josh [Dobbs].”
Perhaps the most surprising part is what the Patriots got in return for Milton, a fifth-round draft pick for the player and a seventh-rounder. There was hope they could flip him for a fourth or even a third-round pick, but they ultimately settled on the Cowboys‘ offer.
It’s a move that will likely be revisited as Milton continues to develop and we see what kind of player he becomes at the NFL level.
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