When the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs, a subsequent rumor about a potential Joe Milton trade surfaced. The cannon-armed New England reserve is not in position to back up Drake Maye next season, and the Pats look to be interested in seeing what market could emerge for their Week 18 starter.
Impressing during Patriots training camp last year, Milton faded into the background as Maye showed early promise. But interest appears to remain in the Tennessee alum. A growing sentiment exists that the Patriots are listening to trade offers on the 2024 sixth-round pick, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin notes.
With Maye the unquestioned starter and Dobbs set to be his backup for a new coaching staff, Volin adds the Patriots are probably aiming to trade Milton this offseason. Doing so would reaffirm an organizational commitment to Maye, whose arm strength is not on Milton’s level. Though no quarterback controversy exists, Milton buzz did percolate during Pats camp last year. That now can be used as trade hype, as the Mike Vrabel regime appears interested in gauging a market early.
Three years remain on Milton’s rookie contract, adding value for teams here. It would be a stretch for a team to trade for Milton viewing him as a potential 2025 starter, but the NFL has a handful of QB-needy teams. Beyond the Giants and Steelers, the Browns and Titans join the Vikings in being interested in at least a potential starter. Milton may not check in as such, despite playing in Week 18 — a Patriots win over Bills second-stringers that dropped New England’s draft slot to No. 4 overall — but he would be an intriguing option during an offseason featuring aging bridge possibilities and a maligned QB rookie class.
The Pats moved off previous backup/late-season starter Bailey Zappe to make room for Milton last year, and while they would need a new third-string option if they deal Milton, a market probably exists. A trade that brings back a Day 2 pick should be the goal here, Volin writes, potentially pointing to the Patriots hanging onto the younger of their two reserve QBs if Day 3 choices are offered. A Day 2 selection is aiming high for a player chosen 193rd overall, and one who is already 25 after spending six years in college.
But Milton goes 6-foot-5, 246 pounds, presenting some rushing ability (as evidenced by a 4.63-second 40-yard time last year) along with arm talent. A team not enamored with this year’s draft class could look to Milton, with market factors likely influencing a potential Patriots push for a Day 2 pick to move on early.
Getting overexcited by Milton’s physical gifts and one start and trading anything of value for him feels like not just a mistake, but a very ’90s mistake.
I would respect the move because the pure risk involved. I’d take Milton over Richardson as starter right now. He has cannon of an arm and great build as QB. He needs a chance to develop and he needs playing experience
Richardson has a cannon of an arm, a great build, and is two years younger. Milton isn’t just old and inexperienced, but the experience he did have was in a Tennessee offense that doesn’t translate to what quarterbacks need to do in the NFL at all. Hendon Hooker was a better prospect coming out of it and after two years in the league with Ben Johnson, the Lions didn’t even trust him to be their second stringer. Milton is a very fun talent, but he’s a lottery ticket as an actual quarterback prospect. It’s not like being able to throw the ball 60 yards in the air actually comes up much in today’s NFL.
Milton is far more accurate though and knows when to slide and not take big hits. These stuff add up
I find it interesting of all the younger QBs involved in trade talks Milton is the name I’ve seen the most. I have to wonder why
Because the team he’s on has a much better young quarterback and Milton doesn’t have any path to the field unless Maye gets hurt. And likely not even then.
Richardson definitely needs to develop in a hurry and get better about avoiding hits and staying on the field, but if accuracy and processing are what you’re after, Milton has not shown those things at all.
Considering how many QB that will probably go in the 1st three rounds of this upcoming draft that will stink, trading a 5th or even 4th for Milton isn’t an awful move.
Yeah why not? Steelers getting Milton for a fifth isn’t crazy
How is this a mistake? When the worst veteran backup QBs are out here getting a minimum $4 mil AAV, having a high end backup for a quarter of that salary is easily worth a 5th round pick. If your starter goes down, worst case scenario Milton can help you tread water, best case scenario, he balls out and you can trade him for an even better draft pick. I’d rather spend a 5th for three years of Milton on a cheap salary than taking a 5th round swing on someone completely unproven in the NFL like Kyle McCord.
I mean, if it’s a fifth round pick for a flyer, fine, whatever. But if someone is looking to him as a real investment or plan, that’s another story.
I don’t think anyone is looking at him as a starter – but teams love developing young QBs – and he’s one of the best developable backups out there right now sans anyone in the Draft.
I’d rather keep my powder dry and take a flyer on one of several guys in the draft, personally. I think the holes in Milton’s game are some of the hardest to surmount. He reminds me more of guys in recent years who ended up converting to tight end than any who have turned into functional quarterbacks.
Hey MarQueis Gray was a legend
Here I was wondering if I was too deep in the weeds for referencing Tyree Jackson, Felipe Franks, and Logan Thomas’ quarterback careers, and then you come off the top rope with MarQueis Gray. I totally forgot about that guy.
There at at least 10 teams that should be over him. I’d love the skins to take a flyer on him but they traded a lot of late round picks in trades. Maybe a 2026 4th and 2025 7th gets it done. Titans, giants, browns, are teams that standout if they don’t plan on added a QB early. Def worth a 4th as the pats got a steal with him last year.
Hold out for a third or better. Probably need to wait until after the draft
Gonna be holding out a long time if you expect a third
Then they hold him, has to be worth it to move him
They dont have to trade him then, hes a luxury to have and there is no need to move him. Would be insanely stupid to trade him for a 4th or later and then just use that pick to select his replacement. Has to be worthwhile to move him
Its also true that if I am trading for him, I need to make sure I don’t overpay for a guy who hasn’t proved anything in a meaningful game.
NE has the right to sit on him, but they need to weigh the cost of keeping him on the roster too. Are they really keeping 3 QBs on the roster all year, or is getting an extra couple of late rounds picks more valuable?
I think both things are true here, but Ive git strong buyer beware vibes.
Pats should use Milton like the Saints use Taysom Hill.
Im not going to lie – there are things that are intriguing about him.
But giving up anything of value based on a preseason and a meaningless week18 game (in which the Bills were not even really playing) is a big ask.
Big buyer beware sign here.
But should a team like Cleveland consider maybe a 5th and like a 7th?
Im not closed off to that idea. At the right price its worth rolling the dice to see what happens when you get him in the building.
The right expectations need to be set, but its intriguing.
If Joe Milton is worth a 3rd then Malik Willis is worth a 1st. Willis beat teams that were actually trying to win.