Patriots gave Dallas hometown discount, Cowboys traded for their next big thing at QB

The Dallas Cowboys are dipping their toes into the developmental quarterback pool once more, and once again, it took a trade to get them there.

This time it's the Cowboys trading a fifth-round pick (No. 171 overall), to the New England Patriots for Joe Milton and a seventh-round selection (No. 217 overall). The pick from the Patriots is the first selection of the seventh round and is 46 spots after the Cowboys' compensatory pick they swapped. A minimal risk for an organization that had talked about wanting to draft a young QB, opting instead to trade for one with some NFL experience. In this draft, with a group of QBs lacking high-end upside, it looks like a wise move.

Milton had been a hot trade candidate this offseason and the Cowboys reportedly had interest in the 25-year-old in recent weeks. In an odd twist, the Patriots apparently had a better offer for Milton but sent him to Dallas because it was where he preferred to play.

My understanding is since Joe Milton became available at the start of the offseason, teams that showed interest included the Raiders, Eagles, Giants, Steelers and the Cowboys.

The #Patriots had a better offer for Milton but chose to send him where he wanted out of respect for… https://t.co/kNDFPA4yempic.twitter.com/iHKhmhRsCv

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 3, 2025

Other teams' loss is the Cowboys' gain, and beating out the rival New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles is an added bonus.

It's a deal that comes just a few years after the team swung and missed on a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and Trey Lance. That deal was for a fourth-round pick, and Lance barely saw the field as the third-string QB with the Cowboys during his two-year tenure. Few thought it was a good trade at the time and the sentiment turned out to be accurate.

The trade for Milton is trending in a much different direction as it's difficult to find anyone against swapping late-round picks for a developmental QB with the tools Milton brings. Ironically, like Lance, Milton has strong athletic traits that display his potential.

Joe Milton had one of the wildest throws of the season on a snap that was ultimately called back.

More than ok to watch him do crazy shit like this for a late-round pick swap. pic.twitter.com/7XRGxadkVr

— David Helman (@davidhelman_) April 3, 2025

Milton was ...