FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton spoke with the media moments after being selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 193rd overall pick.
Milton was quickly asked if he had been approached about potentially being switched to the tight end position, and Milton said that idea had not been presented to him to this point.
"That will never happen," Milton said.
The VFL will join the Patriots in fellow VFL Jerod Mayo's first year as the head coach in New England. Milton said he was excited to have some element of familiarity in a new spot.
"It's great always to have two VFLs in the building, especially when you're somewhere else other than Knoxville," Milton said. "Just for us to reconnect and get to know each other is going to be great."
The Patriots drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall selection in this draft on Thursday night, but Milton said he will go into training camp with the mindset that the quarterback job for the Patriots is anyone's to take.
"I feel like no matter where you go, no matter what quarterback got selected in this draft, you're going to have to compete," Milton said. "Nothing is just given to you."
Milton said he had spoken to the Patriots a handful of times at the Senior Bowl, but had no indication that New England would be the team to take him.
"I just had all the hats laid out," Milton said. "You just never know where you will end up, so I was just waiting on any phone call."
