The Dallas Cowboys took care of their quarterback position through the 2028 campaign when they signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension back in September. As expensive as the contract is, the face of the Cowboys more than deserves it after performing as one of the NFL’s best signal-callers for nearly a decade.
Having said that, what happens after Prescott’s contract expires remains to be seen. The three-time Pro Bowl QB will be 35 years old at the end of the 2028 season. While that’s still young enough, in theory, to play a few more years in the league, the Cowboys could potentially be ready to move on to a new name under center by then.
Assuming that the Cowboys have begun thinking about Prescott’s eventual successor, one NFL insider has the perfect QB for America’s Team to pursue.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler Urges Cowboys to Trade for Patriots QB Joe Milton
On Wednesday’s edition of NFL Live, insider Jeremy Fowler floated around the idea of the Cowboys trading for New England Patriots QB Joe Milton. The second-year gunslinger has been garnering attention after a strong Week 18 performance last season.
“The Patriots are exploring a trade. I’m told several teams are interested,” Fowler said (h/t @Brandoniswrite). “One team to potentially watch for is the Dallas Cowboys because they are looking for a good backup, a young backup with upside they may not get in the draft. Maybe they get in a trade.”
The Patriots left the 2024 NFL draft with two quarterbacks, taking Drake Maye at No. 3 before using the event’s 193rd overall selection on Milton. After Maye’s rookie season proved he was capable of being the franchise’s QB1 going forward, Milton became expendable.
The 25-year-old passer would be the perfect backup option for Prescott while also boasting the potential to become the latter’s successor. It’s a small sample size, but Milton showed flashes of what he’s capable of against the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.
Even though he was mostly facing his AFC East rival’s backup players, the 6-foot-5 QB impressed onlookers by completing 22-of-29 passing attempts (75.9%) for 241 yards, one touchdown, and a 111.4 passer rating. He also scored a rushing touchdown along with 16 yards on 10 attempts, showcasing his toughness in the trenches.
By the time all was said and done, Milton’s 95.8 offense and 94.9 passing grades were the highest among all Week 18 quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Prescott is the present of Dallas’ QB room, however, there’s no telling how long his body will hold up. The former Mississippi State gunslinger missed nine games due to injury last season and a total of 26 since the start of the 2020 campaign, meaning the Cowboys would be wise to invest in a reliable young backup with upside, such as Milton.
On March 16, The Land on Demand‘s Tony Grossi reported that the Patriots are seeking a third-round pick in a potential Milton trade, per his sources. Even if that seems like a steep price for a former sixth-round pick, it’ll be worth it if the Cowboys are confident that they have Prescott’s heir on their hands.
Milton will only draw more attention as the NFL offseason continues and trade rumors swirl. If the Cowboys don’t want to risk losing Prescott’s potential successor, Jerry Jones must act quickly and give the Patriots a call.
