Patriots Reportedly Trade Quarterback Joe Milton III To Cowboys

Joe Milton III’s first appearance beyond the preseason proved to be his last as a member of the New England Patriots.

The organization agreed to trade the quarterback to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in a swap of selections in the 2025 NFL draft, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

New England will receive pick No. 171 overall in the fifth round as part of the exchange, while Dallas will receive pick No. 217 in the seventh round along with the rising sophomore.

Milton, 25, worked the scout team and dressed as the emergency third quarterback during the majority of his rookie campaign in Foxborough. He was active for January’s finale versus the Buffalo Bills, however, and replaced starter Drake Maye after the opening drive of what became a 23-16 win.

In the process of bringing his side of the AFC East to a 4-13 record, Milton went 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and one touchdown. The backflipping, rocket-armed sixth-rounder by way of the Michigan Wolverines and Tennessee Volunteers also found the end zone and an additional 16 yards as a rusher.

“Man, I feel like today was a great step in the right direction for my development, my future itself, just because, you know, you never know,” Milton told reporters during his Week 18 postgame press conference. “The full length of an average career in the NFL is three years, so just try to take every rep that I get, even if it’s in practice or in a game, just try to take it serious as much as I can. So, whatever it takes to do, whatever I got to do, I do it.”

The showing spanned 61 offensive snaps at Gillette Stadium. But there, the future under center is in the hands of the No. 3 overall pick from the 2024 class, not the No. 193 overall pick.

Maye, 22, completed 66.6% of his throws for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and ten interceptions as a Patriots rookie. He tacked on 421 yards and a pair of scores on the ground, as well, across a dozen starts. Recognition as a Pro Bowl alternate followed.

The quarterback depth chart behind the North Carolina Tar Heels product now stands with one.

Veteran Joshua Dobbs joined head coach Mike Vrabel’s roster on a two-year, $8 million contract that includes $3.8 million fully guaranteed in March. And shortly after his arrival in free agency, previous team captain Jacoby Brissett departed for the Arizona Cardinals to become the primary backup to Kyler Murray.

The 6-foot-5, 246-pound Milton projects to take on the same role in the NFC East behind Dak Prescott.