Joe Milton Waived by Cowboys, Top Landing Spots for QB in NFL Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys are moving on from one of their backup quarterbacks.

The team released Joe Milton, whom it traded for last offseason and initially made the 53-man roster. Instead, Sam Howell will now serve as Dak Prescott's backup.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

The former sixth-round pick is now looking for a home, and plenty of teams with a lack of quarterback depth could sign him. The Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets jump out as landing spots for the gunslinger.

After a solid career at Tennessee, Milton started his career with the New England Patriots in 2024 but didn't get many reps behind Drake Maye. He then served as Prescott's backup last year and again didn't see the field very often.

The 26-year-old has appeared in five games over the last two years, throwing for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Milton came into the NFL as a mostly raw talent known for his cannon of an arm, but Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised his growth as a player last week.

"I think you see Joe learning is he's playing quarterback. And he's playing quarterback at a high level," Schottenheimer said. "He's checking the ball down. He's making blitz adjustments. He's solving problems. He's reading from his first, second to third, and even fourth progression at times. It takes time. You don't stop learning as a quarterback. The only way to do it is to play. I'm really, really proud of him."

Nonetheless, the Cowboys felt Howell would be a better fit behind Prescott. The former fifth-round pick spent one season as the starter for the Washington Commanders, throwing for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

As for Milton, his arm strength and mobility likely won't let him go unsigned this season.

The Dolphins have a starter in Malik Willis, but their depth is fairly lacking. Two inexperienced quarterbacks in Kyle McCord and Brady Cook sit behind him, and Milton would arguably be an upgrade over those two.

The Titans likewise have an established starter in Cam Ward, but the only other option under center for them is Mitchell Trubisky, an aging player who already suffered an injury during the preseason.

The Jets have plenty of issues to work out, but the fact that Geno Smith and a rookie Cade Klubnik are the only two quarterbacks on the roster is something worth addressing.