Joe Milton might catch the break he needs to earn a starting job in the NFL. The former Vols quarterback has been looking to break through with the New England Patriots, but despite occasional success, he remained buried on the depth chart.
The Patriots have shown interest in trading Milton ahead of the NFL Draft. They plan to put all of their stock in former first-round pick Drake Maye, and that trade has just been completed.
The 2024 sixth-round draft pick Milton is now heading to the Dallas Cowboys with a seventh-round draft pick, and the Patriots will receive a fifth-round pick in return.
Patriots to trade QB Joe Milton III and 7th-round draft pick to Cowboys in exchange for a 5th-round draft pick. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/PWTOUds3ou
— NFL (@NFL) April 3, 2025
Milton should expect to be the Cowboys' new backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott for the 2025 season. He showed potential at the end of the 2024 season, giving the Cowboys something to work with this offseason.
He completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in Week 18 last year, leading New England to a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Maye started that Week 18 game but only played one possession after a quick three-and-out. Once Milton went in, the Patriots' offense came to life, scoring a touchdown in two of the next three possessions.
Joe Milton's playing opportunities should increase with the Dallas Cowboys.
Milton has shown he has the talent to compete in the NFL as a quarterback, but he needs the opportunity to show he can do it consistently.
While the Cowboys quarterback room is full right now, Jerry Jones is clearly not happy with Trey Lance's development, and there might not be 100% buy-in with Dak Prescott moving forward despite his four-year $240 million contract extension signed in 2024.
Prescott followed up his contract extension by playing a short season due to a season-ending hamstring injury in November. The Cowboys were less than impressive offensively after that, so the addition of Milton could hopefully bring some much-needed energy to the offense.
While Milton is still in the same position as he was with the Patriots—behind a franchise quarterback—that doesn't mean he won't have opportunities in Dallas.
Prescott has only had one healthy season since 2019, so the Cowboys know they need to be ready with a dynamic backup quarterback who can give them a chance to win games without their franchise quarterback.
Milton can do that, and the Cowboys believe that Milton can do that as well with this trade. Prescott will look to continue leading Dallas' offense, but Milton will be ready to step in and lead America's Team whenever he's called on.