New England’s quarterback room has two former Tennessee players in it now, but a report on Monday night suggests that might not be the case for long.
As announced by the NFL on Monday evening, VFL Josh Dobbs is signing a two-year deal with the Patriots as a backup veteran presence around rising second-year starter Drake Maye. New England also has former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III heading into his second season in the league, but he may be on the move after Dobbs’ signing.
According to a report from Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz on Monday night, the Patriots appear to be looking to trade the Tennessee product this offseason.
“Sources: The #Patriots have had discussions on trading QB Joe Milton III and would like to trade him to the right situation to continue his development in the NFL – should a deal get done,” Schultz’s report states. “New England loves Milton, but Drake Maye is their franchise and they just signed Josh Dobbs to a 2-year, $8M contract to be the backup.”
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Dobbs joins the Patriots after spending the 2024 season with the San Francisco 49ers, where he recorded his only stats of the season late in the year. Dobbs replaced an injured Brock Purdy against the Lions in late December, where he ran for a touchdown and threw for 35 yards on 3-of-4 passing. Then, in the final week of the season, Dobbs recorded 326 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and one rushing touchdown in a 47-24 loss to Arizona.
Milton, meanwhile, saw his only action of the season in the final week. The sixth-round rookie from Tennessee dazzled the crowd with 22-of-29 passing, 241 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown in a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.
New England fired former Tennessee linebacker and longtime NFL veteran Jerod Mayo as their head coach after just one year at the wheel immediately following the 2024 season.
While the Patriots currently have two former Vols in the quarterback room right now, that may not be the case for much longer.
