This isn't too surprising, but it is a little disappointing. The New Orleans Saints missed the boat on a low-cost trade for an exciting young quarterback prospect -- New England Patriots backup Joe Milton III is being traded to the Dallas Cowboys for an exchange of late-round draft picks. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that it's a swap of a New England seventh rounder for a Dallas fifth-round pick, and that while Milton "drew interest from multiple teams" it's the Cowboys who got across the finish line.
It's a shame the Saints couldn't have gotten him instead. Milton only appeared in one game for the Patriots last season but led the team to a win (their fourth of the season), completing 22 of 29 passes against the Buffalo Bills' backups. He threw for 241 yards and a score while running for 16 yards and another touchdown. He did lose a fumble, but New England ended their regular season with a 23-16 win over a division rival. Now they're getting a pick in a higher round after dealing Milton to Dallas; he was picked in the sixth round a year ago.
At a time when the Saints are rebuilding their quarterbacks room and considering their options in the 2025 draft, adding an exciting young passer like Milton would have made sense. He could be a part of the long-term solution. We know Ben DiNucci won't be. It's a safe bet that Jake Haener isn't long for New Orleans. First-year head coach Kellen Moore was understanding of Spencer Rattler's challenging situation but it's clear his presence won't keep the Saints from drafting a quarterback. And everyone seems to be aware that Derek Carr is out after this year.
Rounding out the depth chart with Milton instead of DiNucci or Haener going into the draft would've been a good strategy. But that's just not the path the Saints chose to take. Expect them to add a high-profile rookie or two when the draft kicks off later this month.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints miss out after Cowboys trade for promising young Patriots QB
