Mentioned as a 2025 trade chip, Joe Milton continues to see a path back to a second Patriots season appear murky. The Josh Dobbs signing began the trade buzz involving the rocket-armed backup, and it persists.
Milton is drawing trade interest, according to MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian and Mark Daniels, who add the quarterback does not appear against a move. Milton would prefer to be dealt to a place that offers a chance to compete for a starting job, and multiple trade inquiries have come the Patriots’ way.
That is blocked in New England, but most other teams do not have open jobs. A handful do, however, and some other teams — the Rams, Saints and Giants, to name three — have older QBs in place for 2025 but questions for 2026. Milton would profile as an interesting lottery ticket, but as a sixth-round pick last year, the Tennessee alum may not be drawing interest as a potential starter option.
As it stands, Milton is unlikely to fetch a Day 2 pick in a trade, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. One game against Bills backups (and some training camp buzz last summer) likely will not overtake six years of college work that pegged him as a sixth-round talent. While carrying one of the NFL’s strongest arms, Milton still profiles as a project. Though, teams could definitely come up with much less exciting QB2 options.
“Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to be the starter, everybody and that’s great to have that attitude,” Mike Vrabel said. “And he was ready for his opportunity there late in the season, which I commend him on, just like I would any player that sat there and went through a long season, a difficult season, and then got the opportunity, went out, won a football game, played well, helped his team win.”
“And then where that leads to, we’ll see as the draft approaches, or where Joe is on April 7 to start our offseason program. But you have to give Joe credit for being ready to go, going from the third quarterback to being able to win that football game and stay ready and stay hungry.”
If the Patriots cannot obtain a Day 2 pick for Milton, it is worth wondering if they will stand down. A report last month indicated a Day 2 pick as the target in a trade. Although the draft profiles as the NFL’s second trade window annually, Guregian and Daniels note a trade involving Milton likely would not happen until after the draft due to teams’ depth charts being in flux during the three-day event. A team that does not see its QB plans unfold to its liking could take a flier on Milton, who would at least bring appeal as a player signed at sixth-round money through 2027.
The Pats have Dobbs in place as their Maye backup now, and plenty of depth chart changes — a few involving former Titans — have occurred during Vrabel’s first weeks on the job. It will be interesting to see if the Pats hang onto Milton while holding out for at least a mid-round selection or if they are interested in beginning OTAs with a locked-in QB room.
Interesting
Pittsburgh needs to just take a flyer on this guy, drop Rodgers from their plans and see what happens. Screw the Tomlin .500 streak and either find a hidden gem or finish like crap and get a good position to draft a QB… this is the year to do it if ever
Cowboys should make a move for Milton…
They need a young QB2 to develop and Milton would be a perfect fit…
3rd round pick at a minimum, if not keep him and let the price rise next year.
Lol
3rd round minimum for a guy who’s never done a thing in the league? They’ll be lucky to get the 6th rounder they used on him back. If that’s the price for a 24 year old that still needs to be developped then I’m going to guess he’s staying in NE. Teams could literally just draft a guy who’ll be younger, cost less, and will be on their rookie deal longer.
Yep. And his price isn’t going to go up with a year as a third stringer.
I say take a 7th and send him to saints. If Carr gets injured I’d take Milton over rattler and haener as backup
I think Rattler is still a much better prospect than Milton.
Idk maybe it was lack of weapons rattler didn’t do much last year
Rattler played in seven games. Six of them were against playoff teams and Olave and Shaheed were out for almost all of them. I thought he was a much better prospect a year ago and one game from Milton against second stringers playing a vanilla defense isn’t enough to change that for me.
Saints are exactly who I think should trade for him.
Rattler is terrible. At least Milton has shown the ability to be good in college. And he has a much better arm.
Milton had one good season as a starter in his sixth year of college, and it was in an offense that doesn’t translate at all to the NFL. He’s never had to really go through progressions. Rattler is a much better actual quarterback. Milton has a stronger arm, but it’s not like 60 yard passes come up very often in the NFL.
@notimportant—great minds think alike. Milton if given a chance can be a cool success story. Very limited experience and playbooks in college but his physicality and massive arm can do good things
Saints should call for him
On what planet is Rattler a good quarterback? He’s never shown that ability on any level besides putting up empty stats against weak high school competition.
He was very good his last year of college with a weak supporting cast. He was great as a sophomore. He showed a lot more actual quarterback play than Milton did.
I’ll give Oooof credit Rattler never had elite or top graded WRs or offenses in college. Maybe Marvin mims when he was at OU but that’s about it. Legette too but we don’t know what he is yet
He’s 25
I never said he was worth a 3rd, what I said was that the Pats should hold on to him UNLESS a team overpays and gives them a 3rd. He is more valuable to them as a backup or 3rd stringer than any pick below a 3rd rounder. This is a classic “I have a shiny new toy, do you want it” scenario where the Pats have all the leverage. If no one bites, fine….keep him.
Either you trade for him giving NE a small profit – or you claim him from the ps when they don’t keep 3 qbs.
But I think you probably want him to spend training camp with you. Thats the value with him – you get him as a buy low.
Im not wanting to give much for a 6th round guy. If you do, you are putting WAY too much emphasis in games that don’t matter. (Preseason and a meaningless week 18 game)
If NE loved him so much – why sign Dobbs?
Thats what makes this so interesting for NE.
I think its entirely possible they overplay their hand.
They kept 3 last year and kept 3 many times under Belichick. They arent cutting Milton.
They added a veteran QB because both Maye and Milton are 2nd year guys. It’s a plus to have a smart veteran in the room as well.
The Patriots won’t get a day 2 pick for him but they could get a 4th. Talent was never the issue. It was development. After a year in the league he showed some development. If I’m trading for him, I’m not doing it to start him. But if I was the Giants and I don’t go QB in the first 3 rounds, he’d be a great guy to get in the fold and see first hand how he continues to develop.
No way he fetches a 4th.
He spent most of last year running the ps scout team.
The only reason we know his name is because he played well against a Bills tram that was more concerned with staying healthy. He got rewarded for his ps contributions by getting a shot to start.
Its like we (fans) all fall in love with preseason hero’s every year. Every year most of them are never heard from again. We know we shouldnt, and its probably fools gold – but they are fun to root for.
Don’t trust stats during meaningless games.
No, the reason we know the name Joe Milton is he was considered a can’t miss phenom at Michigan and played very well for a dominant Tennessee team that almost beat the defending champions Georgia.
Right!
I remember now how the phenomenal talent lasted to the 6th round of a league that is QB needy.
How can we forget!
Maybe its because he isn’t wanted to as a no 2 for the team that drafted him —— in the 6th round..
IDK.
You are probably right. This guy is destined for nfl stardom.
I take it all back. NE should definitely demand a pair of firsts!
Shame on me for thinking otherwise.
Im waiting for someone to make the 6th round connection.
I just know its coming.
Nice job putting words in my mouth but some of us actually follow football enough to know who players are before they ball out in preseason.
I never said a single thing you’re implying.
The college football world would not shut up about this kid as a recruit or when he was at Michigan, and that only intensified when he balled out for a dominant Tennessee team while replacing another guy who transferred to Tennessee and balled out.
And where was he drafted?
Just say you only casually follow football and call it a day.
Why would I say that? Im very knowledgeable.
But I need your expertise here:
Care to explain why a phenom was drafted in the 6th?
Are you saying that 32 teams thought – nah. He is to phenomenal? When guys like Allen and Richardson go in the first?
Cause that feels like a typical backup QB doesn’t it?
Why did you insert yourself into this conversation?
What exactly is your point? Did you have one, or maybe its notimportant?
Idk fella. But I hope your team trades a haul for this guy!
Except you’re not.
You only know a QB from a major ranked program because of a preseason game.
Yet again you try to put words in my mouth to overcompensate for being a casual.
I never said any of those things myself. I explained why he is so well known to those of us who aren’t casuals, and you got butthurt and responded with this nonsense.
No no.
Answer the questions.
I too – can name football players.
But please – answer the questions, if thats not too difficult.
Your honor, if I may address the court.
The evidence shows there was discussion about the value of a Joe Milton, drafted in round 6, who cant win QB2 job in his current situation. The discussion was very clear about value.
The evidence also shows mr. notimportant forceful defended said player – using the term “cant miss phenom”. And inserted himself into the conversation without an invite – nor evidence supporting or disputing the value of a6th round pick who was labeled by the plantiff “cant miss”
The plantiff could no longer support his statements, as such tried to impugn the knowledge of the defendant Bills1.
Your honor, members of the jury – in spite if this, the defendant was given multiple opportunities in good faith to further explain his position. The plantiff declined and doubled down on his attacks.
We ask that you dismiss this case with prejudice to the plantiff not being able to, or stubbornly unwillingness to define his actual position on the subject at hand. The plantiff has no supporting evidence, and makes no valid argument.
Judge: Decision for the defendant. I agree, the plantiff is over his skies.
We order the plaintiff to answer the questions.
*bangs gavel*
colts trade for milton, draft milroe and have em compete with richardson and watch something crazy. i don’t know what you do with jones.
Jones! Bring me a juicebox!
-Coach
It would be wild to have a three way quarterback competition where Anthony Richardson is the least raw passer.
A Milton, Milroe, and Richardson camp battle would be tremendous to follow. If you told me they’d finish 1-2-3 in any order, I wouldn’t argue it.
The Patriots are delusional. He’s a 6th round talent who had one good game against a team that sat many of their starters and were indifferent to winning the game. It was basically a glorified preseason game.
100%
Of course he wants to be traded. He wants to start somewhere.
Any QB should.
Milton will be a Monster !!
I remember when people thought Gino Torretta and Ken Dorsey were sure Hall of Famers