Did the Patriots Jump the Gun on Joe Milton III Trade?
The New England Patriots made a quarterback move on Thursday, shipping Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round draft pick. In return, they also sent a seventh-round pick, making the trade feel a bit underwhelming for Pats fans.
While moving Milton made sense he wasn’t going to be a long-term backup was this really the best time to make the deal?
Think of it like flipping a house: the Patriots barely had time to renovate before selling him off for a modest return. Milton, a sixth-round pick last year, had been steadily increasing his trade value. If New England had waited until training camp or preseason, there’s a solid chance his stock could’ve risen, possibly fetching a fourth-round pick instead.
What Was the Rush?
Sure, this trade clarifies the QB depth chart, cementing rookie Drake Maye as the starter with Josh Dobbs backing him up. It also avoids any potential “Milton chants” if Maye struggles early. But was that really worth selling low?
New England could’ve waited, let Milton shine in preseason, and capitalized on a desperate team needing a QB. Now, they’ve slightly improved their draft positioning but may have to use that pick on another late-round QB project basically resetting the cycle.
Hindsight is 20/20, but this feels like a move that could’ve been handled better.
