The New England Patriots finally swung a deal with backup quarterback Joe Milton III. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Patriots sent Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick.
After weeks of wild speculation over where Milton would go and how much he'd go for, the Patriots finally made their decision on a trade. The Cowboys acquired the electric quarterback for a two-round pick exchange. Moving up from the seventh round to the fifth round is not as much as many expected the Patriots could get for Milton.
Bleacher Report proposed a deal that would've seen the Patriots get a better draft haul, although it might've been unrealistic given what he went for. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report had the Patriots trading Milton, the fourth pick, and the 77th pick to the Cleveland Browns for the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This move would be an incredible trade for the Patriots. Guaranteeing one of Carter or Hunter would be the ideal world for the Patriots. For the cost of Milton and the 77th overall pick, the Patriots would benefit greatly from this move.
After seeing the actual package the Patriots got for Milton, this trade pitch looks incredibly unrealistic Patriots. While this move was extremely unlikely, it does highlight the potential trade value Milton had.
Milton had been drawing trade interest thanks to his incredible Week 18 performance against the Buffalo Bills. He threw for 241 yards and one touchdown, along with running in a touchdown of his own. Milton earned an incredible 95.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest grade of any quarterback in 2024.
With some hype surrounding Milton, there could've been an opportunity for the Patriots to trade Milton closer to or during the NFL Draft. Aaron Rodgers hasn't signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Browns might be looking for another quarterback. Some teams could benefit from having Milton on the roster.
If the Patriots had waited until the NFL Draft for a desperate team that missed out on a quarterback, the Patriots likely could've received a stronger return than what they got from the Cowboys.
Milton is under contract for three years, and with the potential he showed at the most important position, the Patriots' trade return is lackluster considering what some believed Milton's value was.
Related: Browns and Giants Might Force Worst-Case Scenario for Patriots in Draft
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM.