Last year’s No. 193 overall pick joined the Cowboys on April 3.
As the New England Patriots closed in on the voluntary offseason program, the organization closed out on an investment from the 2024 NFL draft.
The decision to trade quarterback Joe Milton III didn’t happen overnight. But on April 3, it reached the transaction wire as the rising sophomore made his way to the Dallas Cowboys in a swap of upcoming selections.
Mike Vrabel weighed in on the why and the when during his pre-draft press conference at Gillette Stadium.
“Well, we felt like his reps were going to be decreased as we worked through the offseason,” the Patriots head coach told reporters on Tuesday. “And we felt like, just like every other decision, we’re going to try to do what’s best for the team. That’s the decision that we ultimately made.”
The rights to No. 171 overall — a compensatory pick in the fifth round — became New England’s as part of the 2025 exchange. In return, Dallas received No. 217 overall in the seventh round and the former transfer from the Michigan Wolverines to the Tennessee Volunteers.
Milton, 25, arrived in the sixth round as the No. 193 overall pick last spring. He waited until Jan. 5 to make his official NFL debut after working on the scout team and dressing as the emergency quarterback.
The season finale saw Milton take 61 snaps. He completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown through the air. And by ground came an additional visit to the end zone in what became a 23-16 win over the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.
The opportunity to be second-in-command behind Dak Prescott is ahead in the NFC East. Yet the depth chart in Foxborough moves forward with veteran Joshua Dobbs, who signed a two-year, $8 million pact in free agency, backing up 22-year-old starter Drake Maye.
“And so, excited to move forward with Drake and Josh,” added Vrabel, acknowledging the Nickelodeon reference. “That’s going to be a tough one for me to continue to say over and over, Drake and Josh.”
The Patriots near the 2025 draft with nine selections, beginning at No. 4 but not under center.
“Where we’re drafting, there’s a handful of guys,” Vrabel said. “We’re not in the market for a quarterback, so that ought to eliminate anybody that throws the football.”