Cowboys Trade for Patriots Backup QB Joe Milton

The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have agreed to a trade that will send QB Joe Milton and a seventh-round pick to Dallas for a fifth-round pick.

Milton, 25, was a sixth-round pick for the Patriots in 2024. The former Tennessee Volunteer is an elite athlete with a strong arm. He backed up rookie Drake Maye last season. Milton made his lone appearance in Week 18 versus the Buffalo Bills. It was an eye-popping performance — 22-of-29 passing, 241 passing yards, two touchdowns (one rushing). With Maye locked in as a franchise cornerstone, it seemed likely another team would look to acquire Milton and try to tap into his upside.

The backup QB role in Dallas is highly valuable. Dak Prescott is set to return for his 10th year as starter but he’s suffered season-ending injuries in two of the last five seasons. When Prescott has been out, the team has suffered.

A hamstring injury ended Prescott’s season last year, forcing Dallas to turn to backup Cooper Rush. Rush signed with the Ravens this offseason and will be Lamar Jackson’s primary backup. The Cowboys reportedly checked in with a few other options but ultimately decided to make the deal for Milton.

For the Patriots, they move up nearly 50 spots in the NFL Draft by giving up pick No. 217 (plus Milton) for No. 171. Milton was likely projected as the third-string option this year after the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs to backup Maye.

Some pundits had projected the Cowboys to take a quarterback in the middle rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft. This move likely ends any chance of that. Instead, Dallas will look to add more options around the returning Prescott while still working to secure a long-term deal with All-Pro defender Micah Parsons.