The New England Patriots have agreed to trade quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys. Milton shared the development and confirmed the trade in a social media post on Wednesday. According to an ESPN report, the Cowboys will obtain Milton and a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
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
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Patriots Trade Joe Milton III to Dallas Cowboys
The signing of the 25-year-old Milton, whom the Patriots drafted in the sixth round in 2024, provides the Cowboys a young backup quarterback behind starter Dak Prescott after Cooper Rush Cooper Rush signed with Baltimore in free agency. Rush started eight games for the Cowboys last season while Prescott was injured.
Milton spent his first season on New England's practice squad, behind rookie Drake Maye and backup Jacoby Brissett before playing the most of the Patriots' season-ending victory over Buffalo. Milton impressed in his only game of the season, rushing for a score and passing for another.
Milton made his NFL debut on January 5, 2025, in the Patriots' season finale against the Buffalo Bills. Entering the game after Maye’s opening drive, he completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards, threw one touchdown pass (a 48-yard strike to Kayshon Boutte), and ran for another touchdown on a 1-yard rush. His performance led the Patriots to a 23-16 victory, notably knocking them out of contention for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This debut highlighted his potential, earning him a 95.8 PFF grade—the highest single-game grade for a Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady’s 96.9 in 2011.
His future place on the Patriots' roster became uncertain after the team acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs to a two-year free agent contract last month.