The Dallas Cowboys made a quiet but strategic move last month, trading for quarterback Joe Milton to fill the backup spot behind franchise star Dak Prescott.
With Cooper Rush departing for Baltimore, the team needed a new insurance policy-and Milton, a second-year player out of Tennessee, fit the bill. But behind what looked like a routine depth addition, there may be a much bigger plan unfolding in Dallas.
Why the Cowboys really wanted Joe Milton
Milton, 25, saw limited action during his rookie season with New England, where Drake Maye had already locked down the starting job.
Despite minimal opportunities, Milton made the most of his lone extended appearance, completing 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 18.
That outing was enough to catch the Cowboys’ attention-and maybe even hint at long-term potential beyond just a backup role.
Milton’s combination of physical tools, he stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 245 pounds, plus his mobility and arm strength, make him an intriguing developmental prospect.
The Cowboys, unlikely to invest early draft capital on a quarterback this year, saw value in locking up Milton through 2027.
For now, he rounds out a QB room that includes Prescott and Will Grier, but there’s a sense he could be more than just a clipboard holder.
Fresh off the trade, Milton expressed enthusiasm about joining Dallas and learning from Prescott.
“It’s great; he’s a great person,” Milton said.
“This is my second time meeting him, so just being around him, I feel the great energy that he brings, and I’m willing and looking forward to learning from him and really competing.”
While Milton’s goal remains to start in the NFL, he’s approaching this new chapter with patience and professionalism.
Sources close to him noted he “would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.”
In Dallas, that opportunity may not come immediately, but with Prescott’s contract including a 2028 opt-out clause, the timeline may quietly align with Milton’s development.
For now, Jerry Jones’ gamble offers the Cowboys valuable depth and upside, with minimal risk.
If Milton can thrive under Prescott’s mentorship and new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system, this under-the-radar trade could pay off in ways no one expects, at least not yet.
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