The New England Patriots have made several notable roster additions this offseason, but quarterback Joe Milton III became the team’s most notable departure when their trade with the Dallas Cowboys was finalized.
New England traded Milton — alongside a 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 217) — to Dallas in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round selection (No. 171). The trade became a hot conversation topic as the Patriots surrendered their presumed backup option to starting quarterback Drake Maye, for pretty much nothing in return. The biggest question prompted by the trade also remains an understandable talking point: Why was New England so quick to depart from Milton, and clear up any competition for Maye?