Raiders Reportedly Pursued Joe Milton III Trade Before Cowboys-Patriots Deal

The Las Vegas Raiders overhauled their quarterback room this offseason by trading for Geno Smith and then giving him a contract extension, but they reportedly attempted to add another depth piece as well.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic reported Thursday "the Raiders were in on trade talks for New England Patriots backup Joe Milton" before the AFC East team moved him to the Dallas Cowboys.

New England traded Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick.

Milton will now be Dak Prescot's backup quarterback, while Joshua Dobbs will back up Drake Maye in New England. As for the Raiders, they still have Aidan O'Connell behind Smith, although Tafur noted the team's "new brass doesn’t seem that high on" the Purdue product.

Given that as a backdrop, "many expect them to try and trade him for a pick on Day 3 of the draft."

Trading O'Connell for a Day 3 quarterback would allow Las Vegas to get a project-type of quarterback in to learn behind Smith for the next couple of years. That is also something Milton could have done had the front office been able to acquire him before he was sent to the Cowboys.

Milton was a sixth-round pick in last year's draft and appeared in just one game as a rookie.

However, he impressed in that game and led the Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the division-rival Buffalo Bills by going 22-of-29 for 241 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown and looked comfortable directing the offense.

It should be noted the Bills were not playing all of their regulars since they had already clinched a playoff spot, but it was surely a performance that landed Milton on the radar of a number of NFL teams.

Dallas and Las Vegas were two of those teams, but the Raiders will now need to turn their attention elsewhere if they are going to get a new backup for Smith.