When Joe Milton joined the Patriots as a seventh-round draft pick last year, the quarterback was behind first-round pick Drake Maye and veteran placeholder Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart.
That might not have been the optimal developmental spot, but Milton was able to show enough in a Week 18 appearance to create trade buzz around him heading into the offseason. That buzz culminated in Milton being traded to the Cowboys last week in a move that gave Dallas the young backup they wanted for Dak Prescott.
In his first post-trade comments, Milton said it also gave him the chance to learn behind an established NFL starter.