The New England Patriots traded quarterback Joe Milton III and a seventh-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-rounder.
Why they made the move:
The Patriots are set at the position with franchise quarterback Drake Maye coming off an encouraging rookie season. They also added Josh Dobbs as a veteran backup in free agency. Milton, a sixth-rounder in 2024, was stuck on the depth chart, so the rebuilding Patriots decided to improve their draft standing in the late rounds by dealing away a player who didn’t have a direct path to playing time.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys filled a need behind starter Dak Prescott, and they’ve been eying a younger player with long-term potential. They recently had Trey Lance in that role, and they lost trusted veteran backup Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Cowboys grade: B
Milton is a lottery ticket. He played well in limited opportunities as a rookie, notably in the preseason and the final game of the year when he went 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown with another score on the ground in a 23-16 win over Buffalo.
Milton, who has one of the strongest arms in the league, will have time to develop behind Prescott in Dallas, so there will be minimal pressure in terms of expectations as long as Prescott stays healthy.
We’ll see if the Cowboys add a more experienced backup before camp. They loved Rush’s ability to command the offense in a pinch, so there will be more of a learning curve with Milton. And considering Prescott has missed time in four of the past five seasons — and at least five games in three of those years — the Cowboys should covet a little more certainty on the depth chart.
But if Milton develops into a starter or turns those flashes into something more consistent before the expiration of his rookie contract, the Cowboys will love this trade.
Patriots grade: C
The Patriots appear to be in terrific shape at quarterback, but that doesn’t mean Milton couldn’t have continued to be an asset. New regimes always make personnel changes, though, and it’s conceivable head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels weren’t as confident about Milton’s long-term potential.
They shipped out Milton to move up 46 spots in the draft. That’s definitely a gamble, but the Patriots certainly have more pressing needs than developing a young quarterback behind Maye. They could also take another late-round flier on a QB this month in the draft.
The backup quarterback is typically one of the most popular people in town, so there will be fans who hate this decision. Those feelings will be justified if Milton ever has any success as a starter. But by moving on, the Patriots announced their priorities were elsewhere on the roster.
(Photo: Rich Gagnon / Getty Images)