Tom Brady and Joe Milton III each spent multiple seasons as a Michigan quarterback before becoming sixth-round picks of the New England Patriots.
That second similarity was cemented Saturday afternoon, when the Patriots selected the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Milton with the 193rd overall pick of this year's NFL draft. Milton, who played three years with the Wolverines before transferring and playing three seasons at Tennessee, completed 229 of 354 passes (64.7%) for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions for last season's Volunteers.
"I had all the hats laid out," Milton said Saturday night on a conference call with Boston-area media members. "You just never know where you'll end up, so I was just waiting on any phone call."
Milton was among three Tennessee players who were chosen on the third and final day of the draft, which consisted of the fourth through seventh rounds. Running back Jaylen Wright went to the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round as the 120th overall selection, while cornerback Kamal Hadden went to the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the past two Super Bowls, in the sixth round as the 211th pick.
New England had not drafted a Vols player since using its first-round pick in 2008 on linebacker Jerod Mayo, who is now in his first season as head coach of the Patriots. Mayo is the successor to Bill Belichick, the architect of the organization's six Super Bowl titles with Brady at the helm for all of them.
Mayo's first pick as Patriots coach transpired Thursday night, when the team took North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye third overall.
"We're in the business of trying to get good football players through the door, and Milton happens to be one," Mayo said Saturday night on a conference call. "Obviously he understands we took a quarterback at No. 3 with Drake, but one thing we preach is competition. Nothing is given. All of it's earned."
Milton was also asked about New England taking the 6-4, 225-pound Maye and said, "No matter where you go, you've got to compete. Nothing is given to you no matter who you are."
Both Mayo and Milton were asked if Milton could potentially switch to another position. The Patriots also have Jacoby Brissett, Nathan Rourke and Bailey Zappe on their roster at quarterback.
"We'll have to see how that kind of plays out once we put the pads on, but we drafted him as a quarterback," Mayo said.
The 5-11, 210-pound Wright rushed for 1,013 yards while averaging 7.4 per carry last season, becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Vols since Jalen Hurd in 2015. His yards per rush led all Football Bowl Subdivision running backs with a minimum of 120 attempts.
Wright had been projected as high as a second-round pick after a combine performance that included a 40-yard dash time of 4.38 seconds.
"People say that Josh Heupel's offense spreads everybody out and that it leaves the defense with a soft belly, but that's baloney," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. "Jaylen Wright has the burst, and he has the frame. He has leg drive. He breaks contact. He can be slippery, and his balance is outstanding.
"He's a patient runner, and you talk about hitting home runs — he had a 52-yard run against Kentucky, an 82-yard run against Connecticut, a 75-yard run against Georgia and a 42-yard run against South Carolina. When he gets a little crack, he's gone."
Wright became the highest-drafted Tennessee running back since Alvin Kamara, a five-time Pro Bowl invitee, was tabbed early in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in 2017. John Kelly went to the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, but no Vols running back had been taken since.
The Dolphins released a video of coach Mike McDaniel talking on the phone with Wright, who was sobbing.
"The emotion you're exhibiting right now is one of the reasons why this is meant to be," McDaniel said. "We are elated. This is your opportunity, and you knew you wanted to be here.
"Celebrate with your family. It's a cool, cool moment, and it's just the beginning."
Hadden missed the final six games last season due to a shoulder injury, but his Pro Football Focus defensive coverage grade of 90.4 was second among Southeastern Conference cornerbacks and fifth in the nation. The 6-1, 197-pounder did not give up a touchdown pass last year, and he tallied 19 tackles, eight pass breakups and a team-high three interceptions.
Vols players agreeing to free-agent opportunities after the draft were receiver Ramel Keyton (Las Vegas Raiders), tight ends McCallan Castles (Philadelphia Eagles) and Jacob Warren (Patriots), linebacker Aaron Beasley (Seattle Seahawks), safety Jaylen McCollough (Rams), cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally (Tennessee Titans), offensive lineman Jeremiah Crawford (Carolina Panthers), and return specialist Dee Williams (Seahawks).
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.