Cowboys Reportedly Acquire Quarterback Joe Milton to Back Up Dak Prescott in Deal with Patriots

The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly bolstered their quarterback depth, acquiring second-year signal-caller Joe Milton III from the New England Patriots in a trade that positions him as the primary backup to star quarterback Dak Prescott. According to multiple sources, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys sent a compensatory fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to New England in exchange for Milton and a seventh-round selection, marking the team’s third trade of the offseason as they prepare for the 2025 campaign.

The move comes on the heels of losing longtime backup Cooper Rush, who signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens in March, leaving a void behind Prescott. With Trey Lance also hitting free agency and remaining unsigned, Dallas entered the offseason with only Prescott and journeyman Will Grier on the quarterback depth chart. The acquisition of Milton, a 25-year-old with a cannon arm and untapped potential, signals the Cowboys’ intent to secure a young, developmental talent to support their franchise quarterback, who has faced injury challenges in recent years.

Milton, a sixth-round pick by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, spent his rookie season as the third-string quarterback behind starter Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. His lone regular-season appearance came in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, where he showcased his raw talent, completing 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, while adding 16 rushing yards and another score in a 23-16 victory. Despite the impressive outing, Milton’s path to playing time in New England was blocked by Maye’s emergence and the Patriots’ recent signing of Joshua Dobbs as a backup, making him expendable.

For Dallas, the trade aligns with comments made earlier this week by Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones at the NFL’s annual meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. “We’re not done yet,” Jones told reporters. “We still got some things that are outstanding that we’re trying to get done.” The acquisition of Milton appears to be one of those priorities, providing insurance for Prescott, who missed nine games in 2024 due to a season-ending hamstring injury and has sat out significant time in four of the past five seasons.

Prescott, 31, remains the cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offense, having signed a four-year, $240 million extension in 2024 that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. While his recovery from hamstring surgery is reportedly on track for the start of the 2025 season, the team’s recent struggles—finishing 7-10 and missing the playoffs in 2024—underscored the need for a reliable contingency plan. Milton, standing at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, brings a rare combination of size, athleticism, and arm strength that has drawn comparisons to some of the league’s most dynamic passers.

During his collegiate career, Milton began at Michigan before transferring to Tennessee, where he threw for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his final season in 2023. His arm talent, often highlighted by viral clips of 80-yard throws, made him a polarizing prospect in the 2024 draft. While still considered a raw talent requiring refinement, Milton’s upside offers Dallas a high-ceiling option to develop behind Prescott.

The trade has been met with optimism from Cowboys brass. “We’re thrilled to add a young guy like Joe with his kind of potential,” a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the deal awaits official confirmation. “He’s got the tools, and with Dak and Will [Grier] in the room, he’ll have the chance to grow into the role we need him to play.”