From Forgotten Patriot To The Cowboys New Backup Plan

The Dallas Cowboys have found themselves a backup quarterback. It wasn’t easy and took a little bit of trial and error, but lo and behold, they are finally reaping the rewards of making a good trade. And those rewards come courtesy of Joe Milton III.

This story first began last offseason when the team was searching for a young quarterback they could develop after the failed Trey Lance experience. Rather than wallowing in disappointment or changing up their strategy, the front office reloaded and found a great opportunity to acquire Milton thanks to the New England Patriots’ abundance of depth.

The Patriots already had a franchise quarterback in their pocket in Drake Maye, and they just signed free agent Joshua Dobbs. Keeping Milton meant they’d have to use a roster spot for a developmental guy buried on the depth chart. That wasn’t what they wanted to do, so they found a suitor and shipped him off, and that suitor was the Cowboys.

Initially, it felt like an easy win for the Cowboys. Unlike the previous Lance trade, the team did not have to give up a fourth-round draft pick. Not even close. The trade cost next to nothing as the Cowboys gave up a late-round pick (no. 171) for an early seventh-round pick (no. 217). That’s essentially a 46-spot move back on Day 3 of the 2025 draft. Like we said, almost nothing.

This seemed like a screaming deal for Dallas considering the sample size they had on Milton was pretty decent. He had played one game in 2024, and he looked really good. He showed nice poise in the pocket, made good decisions with the football, and placed the ball in great spots. It was only one game, but how could the Patriots let this guy go for so cheap? It didn’t add up.

Sadly, it didn’t take long for that excitement to wear off. It was as if the clock struck midnight and he turned back into a pumpkin. Reports in his first camp validated the Patriots’ apprehensions and showed that he’s still a developing quarterback. When preseason action rolled around, there would be glimpses of his mobility and cannon arm, but far more instances of him airmailing passes or launching short-range missiles that would carom off the body of his intended targets. He just wasn’t ready.

Oddly, the Cowboys went into last season with Milton and only Milton as their backup, despite clear signs that he wasn’t ready for the spotlight. Fortunately for the offense, he wasn’t needed. Dak Prescott was healthy the entire year and played all 17 games. When Milton was called into action, it was garbage time only, and he did exactly what you’d expect. He wowed us with some big plays, and then he’d cap off the drive with a bad throw that ended up in the arms of the other team. He played sparingly in four games last year, all of which were three-score losses.

The high-variance play of Milton seemed to suggest that the Cowboys had once again whiffed on a developmental QB. At least this one didn’t cost much, but that cost would be much greater if they had to throw him into action to help win a meaningful football game. That’s why it made perfect sense for the Cowboys to hedge their bets and sign free agent quarterback Sam Howell. The veteran came with his own baggage, but at least now the team could decide between the lesser of two evils after a good old training camp battle.

What’s happened since is hard to explain. The steps Milton has taken in a matter of a year have been massive. His play on Saturday was a completely different quarterback than we’ve seen previously during his time in Dallas. He showed great poise in the pocket, stood tall, and calmly made his reads. He wasn’t skittish or looking to run at the first sign of trouble. His footwork was steady, and he delivered perfect strikes to his receivers.

What’s even more impressive than his clean pocket moments is what he did when things broke down. And they did. When the pocket collapsed, Milton calmly stepped forward and relocated. He didn’t panic and take off running the ball. He simply evaded pressure, stayed behind the line of scrimmage, and re-calculated his position. Against the Cardinals, the young quarterback delivered so many well-thrown balls while on the run. It was a thing of beauty. After watching him wind up and misfire so many times last year, seeing him throw with a soft touch and accuracy was nothing short of amazing.

The improvements Milton has made are almost night and day different. This wasn’t just one game. It’s now two games stacked on top of each other. Two really great halves of football for the young quarterback where he’s now gone 21/28 passing (75% completion rate) for 286 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks. That’s a 142.8 passer rating. He’s also rushed for a touchdown.

His confidence is showing, and his understanding of what he is supposed to do was on full display. Better familiarity with the playbook and correcting previous mistakes has put him in a great position going forward. He’s only halfway through his cheap rookie deal, meaning the Cowboys have player control over the next two seasons for just $1 million per year.

Having secured a quality backup is a great achievement, and that is what the Cowboys have done. It didn’t come instantly, but through patience and hard work, Milton looks to be the guy they can call on if Prescott misses action. It’s a good feeling to have that added sense of security and know that the awesomeness of the team’s explosive receivers won’t fizzle out if their starter goes down.