Quarterback Joe Milton Acquired By Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have acquired Quarterback Joe Milton III from the New England Patriots. New England sent a 5th-round pick to Dallas for the exchange. The Cowboys are also sending the Patriots a 7th-round draft pick. Milton is expected to back up Dak Prescott in Dallas. A trade involving Milton has been expected. Milton started the last game of the 2024 season. He was 22-of-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown.

Dallas Cowboys Get Backup For Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys lost backup QB Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. Dallas was expected to address this position in the upcoming NFL draft. Jerry Jones must have thought that Milton was a better prospect than any of the late-round quarterbacks in the draft this year. Milton was selected in the 6th round of the NFL Draft last season. Milton played for the University of Tennessee in college. In his final NCAA season, he tallied 26 total touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.

New England Patriots Add More Draft Capital For Vrabel

The New England Patriots signed QB Josh Dobbs as their backup to Drake Maye earlier this offseason. Dobbs is a veteran backup QB with much more experience than Milton. Head Coach Mike Vrabel has a history of relying on veterans over rookies at the quarterback position. The extra fifth-rounder will help Vrabel transform one of the league’s worst rosters. It may be the first of many picks the Patriots add for this year’s draft.

Final Thoughts

This trade makes sense on both sides. The Cowboys get a backup quarterback on a cheap rookie contract for the next three years. The Patriots essentially turned a 6th rounder last year into a fifth this year, not a bad return for a player who was hopefully never going to see the field. The smart move for the Patriots in this year’s draft might be to trade back as much as possible. Trading back would allow them to stockpile assets and help them turn the roster over.