NFL Draft: 5 perfect fits for Tennessee QB Joe Milton

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton comes into the 2024 NFL Draft after showing off his throwing ability and arm strength at the NFL Combine and Tennessee's Pro Day. The Vols quarterback ranges from the fourth to the seventh round in most mock drafts so far.

Milton spent three years in Tennessee, playing in 29 games, starting in the final 12 of his career. In his final season, he threw for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions while recording a passing efficiency rating of 147.3. While those numbers aren't record-breaking, his arm talent is what stands him apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year's draft class. 

Once he finds his new home in the National Football League, he will need a corps of coaches to help him refine his short and intermediate passing so he can effectively use his arm from throwing 10-yard passes to 75-yard passes through the air to a receiver on the other end of the field. Here are five teams that would currently be the best fits for Milton in the NFL.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

If I could send Joe Milton anywhere in the NFL, it would be to Kansas City. We've seen what Andy Reid has done with Patrick Mahomes since he was drafted out of Texas Tech in the 2017 NFL Draft. To be fair, Mahomes had a higher upside going into his draft and was a top-ten pick.

Other notable quarterbacks Reid has coached and developed into having some of the best years of their careers under Reid are Brett Farve in Green Bay, Donovan McNabb and Mike Vick in Philadelphia, and resurrected Alex Smith's career in Kansas City.

Kansas City would not be an ideal place for Milton if he's looking for immediate playing time, but learning and developing under Reid, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and QB Coach David Girardi, who has been Mahomes' coach since he became the Chiefs' starter in 2018.

Hopefully, if Milton does land in Kansas City, Reid and his group of offensive coaches can test Reid's quarterback whispering and prepare Milton to earn the opportunity to start down the road with the Chiefs or another NFL franchise.

2. Miami Dolphins

The second team on this list is the Miami Dolphins. Head Coach Mike McDaniel has done a great job developing former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel is known for his innovative and high-scoring offense with weapons throughout the offense.

Since McDaniel became the Dolphins head coach in 2022, we've seen Tua's numbers jump yearly, improving his passing yards by 1,000 yards each season. Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith has been a big part of the Dolphins' offensive success over the past two seasons.

McDaniel and Smith have been able to develop Tua and build weapons around him to give themselves a chance to win every game they play. Let's also remember the last time Milton played in Hard Rock Stadium. Milton threw for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in Tennessee's dominant 31-14 win over Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl.

3. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have found their franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud. The Texans currently have two journeymen behind Stroud in Davis Mills and Case Keenum, but adding Milton might be what the Texans and Milton need to continue improving. Along with Stroud, adding the threat of Milton's arm could be lightning in a bottle for the Texans.

Texans offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has done a great job developing Stroud after the bar was set low for the rookie in 2023. He kept improving week over week under Lazor, and after the Texans' Week 8 loss to Carolina, Stroud was unstoppable for the rest of the regular season.

If Lazor can create the magic he used to set Stroud on fire in 2023, it could be what Milton needs in his first few years in the NFL while he works to earn a second contract in Houston or elsewhere in the league.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The fourth team on this list is most in need of a QB1. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, so they have plenty of competition in the QB room, but it's still being determined what the long-term future looks like for the Steelers at the quarterback position.

Arthur Smith is the new offensive coordinator for the Steelers, and he has a history of developing quarterbacks as the OC. Things didn't work out in Atlanta as the Falcons head coach, but now he can focus completely on the offense and developing his quarterbacks.

With Wilson and Fields already on the roster and likely QB1 and QB2 for the 2024 season, Milton will have to start as QB3 for the Steelers, but that doesn't mean he won't move up the depth chart over the next few years.

Milton will have the opportunity to learn from Wilson, who is a former MVP and Super Bowl Champion, while also working with Fields, a QB with valuable NFL starting experience, and Smith, who helped Ryan Tannehill develop into an MVP quarterback at Tennessee.

Smith has also developed strong rushing attacks with the Titans and Falcons. Pair that with any quarterback, and they will take a step in the right direction. If Smith can create the same positive development he did at Tennessee with Tannehill, Milton could become a valuable starter for the Steelers in the future.

5. Dallas Cowboys

The final team on this list is the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy is looking for a spark in his offense to keep the Cowboys' 2024 season alive late into the season and his career alive as he's on the hot seat coming into 2024.

McCarthy has created some developmental magic in his quarterback development in the past. He played a big part in developing Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, and we've seen Dak Prescott make a positive jump in the last two seasons with McCarthy having a bigger stake in the offense.

The Cowboys have Trey Lance as QB2, but if Milton is drafted by the Cowboys and makes an immediate impact throughout camp with his arm strength, McCarthy might be able to help him enough with the rest of his game to turn him into a serviceable NFL quarterback.

The 89th annual NFL Draft will take place this year from Thursday, April 25 to Saturday, April 27, in Detroit, Michigan. Milton is projected to be a Day 3 draft pick right now but could still climb up draft boards as we approach Draft Day.