The Dallas Cowboys have successfully acquired Joe Milton III as their new backup quarterback after a trade with the New England Patriots. This move comes after the Cowboys sought a young quarterback to develop following their unsuccessful experience with Trey Lance.
Milton's trade was facilitated by the Patriots' depth at the quarterback position, as they already had a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and recently signed Joshua Dobbs. Consequently, the Patriots decided to trade Milton rather than keep a developmental player buried on their depth chart.
The Cowboys managed to secure Milton for a minimal cost, giving up a late-round pick (No. 171) in exchange for an early seventh-round pick (No. 217), which represented a minor shift in draft positioning.
Initially, there was optimism surrounding Milton's potential, especially after he had a strong performance in his NFL debut in 2024, showcasing poise and decision-making skills. However, as training camp progressed, concerns arose regarding his readiness, with reports indicating that he struggled with consistency during preseason games.
Despite these concerns, the Cowboys entered the previous season with Milton as their sole backup. Fortunately for the team, starting quarterback Dak Prescott remained healthy throughout the year, limiting Milton's playing time to garbage time situations, where he displayed both impressive plays and costly mistakes.
