The Dallas Cowboys have successfully acquired Joe Milton III as their backup quarterback, marking a significant shift in their quarterback strategy. This development follows a challenging search for a young player to develop after the unsuccessful Trey Lance experience.
The Cowboys capitalized on an opportunity presented by the New England Patriots, who had an excess of quarterbacks, including franchise player Drake Maye and newly signed Joshua Dobbs.
Rather than keeping Milton, who was buried on the depth chart, the Patriots opted to trade him to the Cowboys. The Cowboys made this acquisition at a minimal cost, giving up a late-round pick (No. 171) in exchange for an early seventh-round pick (No. 217), a relatively minor trade compared to their previous experience with Lance.
Initially, the Cowboys were optimistic about Milton, who had shown promise in his one game during the 2024 season, displaying poise and good decision-making. However, excitement waned as reports from training camp indicated that Milton was still developing. During the preseason, while flashes of his potential were evident, he often struggled with accuracy, raising concerns about his readiness.
Despite these issues, the Cowboys entered the last season with Milton as their sole backup quarterback. Fortunately for the team, Dak Prescott remained healthy throughout the year, limiting Milton's playing time to garbage time situations, where he exhibited both impressive plays and costly mistakes.
