Joe Milton ready to compete in crowded Patriots QB room, says position switch 'will never happen'

After an early run on quarterbacks that saw six taken in the first 12 picks, no other signal-callers were taken until partway through the fifth round. In that later group of QBs, former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton finally heard his name called in the sixth round, getting drafted by the New England Patriots with the 193rd-overall pick.

Speaking Saturday after the draft ended, Milton admitted to a bit of surprise that it was New England that finally called him, though he was keeping his mind open to the chance of any team.

"It was kind of both, both of the same spectrum. But at the same time, it was kind of like, I just had all of the hats laid out. You just never know where you will end up, so I was just waiting on any phone call," Milton said, via the team's transcript. "It's a wonderful moment. I am pretty much speechless at this point, I'm kind of fumbling over myself, so I am kind of speechless at this point. But you know, I am blessed by the best. I'm happy about this moment."

Milton now enters a Patriots locker room quickly becoming crowded with quarterbacks.

By picking Milton, New England double-dipped at the QB position in this year's draft, having already taken who many consider to be the future of the franchise in North Carolina's Drake Maye. Maye and Milton will join Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke and Jacoby Brissett with the knowledge that there will be a battle for roster spots over the course of the offseason.

But Milton is prepared for whatever adversity comes his way and chooses to view the competition as just another chance to prove himself.

"It's just an opportunity. I feel like everywhere you go, no matter what quarterback got selected in this draft, no matter where you go, you're going to have to compete,"