As the Dallas Cowboys begin shaping their quarterback depth chart for the 2025 season, one name has started to surface more than most expected.
Traded from the New England Patriots in April for a fifth-round pick swap, Joe Milton entered OTAs with modest expectations. But the man nicknamed “Bazooka Joe” has quickly made his presence known.
The word “potential” opens the door to fair speculation, but stretching it to suggest that Milton is pushing Dak Prescott for the starting job is premature.
Milton‘s early performance at Cowboys OTAs and minicamp has been promising. By most accounts, he’s shown a strong command of deep throws, impressive mobility for his size, and that rare physical profile that makes scouts take notice: 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, and capable of making off-platform throws with ease.
“He’s very strong and makes throws down the field rolling to his off side look effortless,” Saad Yousuf of The Athletic said. “You can tell he still needs to process the game a little faster, but he’s a young player in a new system. I’ll be fascinated to see how he performs during training camp and preseason games.”
According to CowboysCountry.com, Milton has vaulted ahead of Will Grier on the depth chart, which could signal his rise as the QB2 behind Prescott. That’s significant. With Cooper Rush gone to the Ravens in free agency, Dallas needs a backup quarterback to emerge. Milton, with his arm talent and athleticism, fits the bill as a developmental piece who could evolve into something more.
National media blowing the story out of proportion
Here’s where things get fuzzy. Several national outlets, lacking on-site insight and seemingly hungry for clicks, have taken the narrative and spun it toward controversy. Headlines suggesting Milton is “standing out” have morphed into claims that he could challenge Prescott for QB1 status.
Milton‘s natural gifts make him fun to watch and easy to hype. That kind of talent should absolutely be cultivated. With the Patriots focusing all their attention on Drake Maye, the Cowboys were smart to pounce on a player who might have untapped upside.
But that upside is still raw. Milton struggled at times in college with consistency, accuracy, and processing, all traits critical to succeeding in the NFL. He’ll have to prove he can do more than just throw hard or flash on a single rep in May.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy hasn’t indicated anything close to a quarterback controversy, and it’s unlikely he will.
What’s far more realistic is that Dallas sees Milton as a high-ceiling backup they can groom. If he impresses in training camp and preseason, he might cement the QB2 role behind Prescott.
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