The Dallas Cowboys traded for former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton on Thursday morning. The Patriots sent Milton and a seventh-round draft pick to Dallas and received a fifth-round pick in return.
ESPN's Seth Walder graded the Cowboys' and Patriots' efforts in this trade, and based on those grades, the Cowboys emerged as early winners.
The trade seems to favor the Cowboys on the surface, adding a dynamic backup quarterback to play in relief if Dak Prescott suffers another injury. As a result, Walder gave the Cowboys an A- grade while giving the Patriots a C grade in the trade.
"If the Patriots were going to move on from Milton, I thought they would get more than this," Walder writes. "He was a sixth-round pick a year ago, and -- even with all the caveats of the circumstances of his one-game -- surely his stock has gone up since then, right?
"Instead, they got back only close to what they paid for him. Several teams will surely use a fifth- or sixth-round pick on shaky QB prospects later this month.
"Milton will become the Cowboys' backup (with Cooper Rush now in Baltimore) and is presumably a higher variance backup than other options. But he also has a higher upside than other options."
The move gives the Cowboys an asset sitting behind Prescott. The Cowboys' franchise quarterback signed a four-year extension last year and has three years remaining on that deal, but it's clear Jerry Jones is looking for insurance due to Prescott's injury history and has found it in Milton.
America's Team is looking to prevent a repeat of the 2024 season results if Prescott does go down again with an injury. Milton proved in his Week 18 performance last year he has what it takes to compete in the NFL with a stellar performance.
Patriots' first-round pick Drake Maye started the game but only played one drive after a quick three-and-out. Milton took over after that, completing 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, leading New England to a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills
The Cowboys are named the initial winner of this trade with ESPN's grade of the trade, setting up the Cowboys and Milton to have a breakout season when given the opportunity possibly.