The Cowboys have a new quarterback with serious potential behind $240 million starter Dak Prescott.
The team is acquiring Joe Milton from New England, as first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on Thursday morning.
The Cowboys will get Milton and a seventh-round draft pick from the Patriots in exchange for one of Dallas's multiple fifth-round selections.
Milton was a sixth-round choice last year out of Tennessee. He got into just one game for the Pats, going 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a score in the team's season finale win over Buffalo. He also added 16 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Sources: The #Patriots are trading QB Joe Milton to the #Cowboys in exchange for late-round draft pick compensation.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2025
A new backup for Dak Prescott, Milton went 22 of 29 for 241 yards and a TD in Week 18 last year, a New England win. The potential is there. Now, a new home. pic.twitter.com/LA8YAOeUIn
The 6-foot-5-inch Florida native started his college career at Michigan but saw only limited action behind other passers for three seasons. Next he transferred to Tennessee in 2021, splitting time with Hendon Hooker for two more years. Milton became the Volunteers starter in 2023, amassing over 2,700 yards and 20 touchdowns (to just five interceptions) in 12 starts.
The 25-year-old brings capable legs, too. In his final year of college ball, he totaled 292 rushing yards and six touchdowns, averaging nearly four yards per carry.
Despite a relatively small sample body of work to judge, that skill set makes Milton an intriguing backup option to Prescott, who has missed 26 games over the past five seasons due to injury. The Cowboys lost longtime QB2 Cooper Rush to free agency this offseason; he signed with Baltimore. Onetime No. 3 overall draft pick Trey Lance was in town for two seasons but did not show enough to be brought back for 2025.
Will Grier was the only other quarterback on the Cowboys roster; it was widely expected that the team would add another signal-caller, either through free agency, the draft, or a trade.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys land Dak Prescott backup; trade for Patriots QB Joe Milton
