Why Patriots Traded Joe Milton to Cowboys 3 Weeks Before NFL Draft Reportedly Revealed

The New England Patriots turned heads Thursday when they traded quarterback Joe Milton to the Dallas Cowboys with the NFL draft looming later this month, but new head coach Mike Vrabel's approach to building team culture reportedly played a role in the timing.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Sunday that the timing was anything but a "coincidence" since the team's voluntary program starts Monday.

"Vrabel views that as a meaningful checkpoint in the process of establishing team culture and the dynamic that ideally unfolds within each position group," Reiss wrote.

New England traded Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick, which leaves Joshua Dobbs as the team's lone quarterback behind Drake Maye. The Patriots could look to draft another quarterback for depth purposes, while Milton will be Dak Prescott's backup in Dallas.

The Cowboys needed someone to fill that role after Cooper Rush signed with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.

Karen Guregian of Mass Live also reported on the timing of the deal given the context that "in the NFL, giving up so soon on a good young quarterback doesn't compute. Letting one go so quickly is considered a major no-no."

Guregian reported that "Milton fancied himself a starter" and didn't believe he was granted a "legitimate chance to compete with Drake Maye." Given that as the backdrop, he "preferred being elsewhere" if he wasn't going to get the chance to compete.

While he will be behind Prescott in Dallas, Guregian noted "he's reportedly happy to be there given his mother has been a longtime fan of the Cowboys, and it's always been a 'dream' of his to play there."

Milton played just one game during his rookie season in 2024, but he impressed during it while leading the Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the division-rival Buffalo Bills. He went 22-of-29 for 241 yards, one touchdown and zero interception and also ran for another score.

While it was a small sample size against a team that already clinched its spot in the playoffs and didn't play some of its regulars, it was still quite the showing for the rookie during his first game action in the NFL.

It clearly caught the Cowboys' eyes, as they decided to trade for him instead of waiting for the NFL draft to add quarterback depth behind Prescott. And that backup role is important in Dallas considering the starter was limited to five games in 2020, 12 games in 2022 and eight games in 2024.

As for the Patriots, they will now start looking to build team culture with Maye and Dobbs during Vrabel's first year as head coach.