Patriots training camp battles: Which direction should Pats go for QB depth? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Drake Maye will have the attention of all eyeballs at Patriots upcoming training camp practices. Jacoby Brissett and his hold on the top spot on the quarterback depth chart will be closely monitored as well.
But there’s another battle brewing in Foxboro when it comes to the most important position on the field. Both Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton remain on the roster, yet there may be only one spot on the roster available to them by summer’s end.
Which one ends up being the No. 3 behind center for offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt? And is there any chance that third spot goes to someone who isn’t even with the team at the moment?
Let’s take a look at a few different scenarios…
The favorite
At the moment, Joe Milton looks to me like the best bet to grab the third quarterback spot on the 53-man roster. If there is one. He’s so physically gifted that cutting him at the end of camp — therefore making him available to other teams across the NFL that may be interested in bringing him along — could result in a lost asset and a wasted sixth-round draft pick.
Has Milton done anything to this point to earn that roster spot? Not necessarily. He’s flashed serious arm talent. His frame makes him stand out even next to other big-bodied passers like Maye and Brissett. But he barely saw any team reps in minicamp, which seemed to be another indication that the Patriots view him as a long-term developmental player.
But in an organization that will apparently take a Packersian approach to quarterback investment, Milton feels like the best bet to stick on the roster over Zappe.
The ‘remember me?’ option
There is a world in which the Patriots are confident they can get Milton onto their practice squad by releasing him at the end of camp and bringing him back once he’s cleared waivers.
After all, no team was willing to draft Milton until the Patriots did at pick No. 193….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-training-camp-battles-direction-001657364.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-07-19 00:16:57
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