When the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as head coach last offseason, one of the more unexpected moves that followed was the trade of rookie quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys. The Patriots packaged Milton and a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder - a modest return for a player who, at the very least, flashed intriguing upside.
Milton, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft, spent most of his rookie season buried on the Patriots' depth chart. He started the year behind veteran Jacoby Brissett and first-round pick Drake Maye, who eventually took over the starting job in Week 6 and never looked back. Speaking on Boston’s WEEI radio station this week, Milton didn’t hold back when reflecting on his time in Foxborough - and his frustration was palpable.
Milton: “I Just Felt Disrespected”
“When you move Drake up to start, what should Jacoby now do?” Milton said.
“You keep him at the two because he’s a vet, but he’s not taking reps. It’s just me and Drake, the only ones practicing, but [Brissett was] still the two.
I just felt disrespected.”
Milton’s frustration wasn’t just about being third on the depth chart - it was about the reps, or lack thereof. With Brissett not taking practice snaps but still listed as the backup, Milton felt like he was doing the work without getting the recognition. And for a young quarterback trying to prove he belongs, that disconnect stings.
He did get one real shot on the field - and he made the most of it. In Week 18, Milton started against the Buffalo Bills and delivered a strong performance: 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing score. It was a glimpse of the talent that made him a draft pick in the first place - a big arm, mobility, and confidence to push the ball downfield.
But even that wasn’t enough to change his standing in New England.
Practice Hero, Depth Chart Afterthought
Milton said he felt like he wasn’t improving, largely because he wasn’t getting the developmental attention he needed. That’s when he told his agency he wanted a fresh start.
And if you ask Milton, it wasn’t for lack of performance on the practice field.
“How I play in the game is how I practice,” he said. “I’m running over y’all defense. I’m throwing the ball over your head.”
He recalled one moment in particular that stuck with him - a deep ball thrown over cornerback Christian Gonzalez during practice. As the ball sailed, Milton turned to look at then-head coach Jerod Mayo and executive VP Eliot Wolf.
“They couldn’t do nothing but just look at the ball,” Milton said. “The ball got completed.
He scored. And they just shook their heads.”
That kind of swagger - and that kind of throw - is what makes Milton such a fascinating player. But it also underscores the disconnect between what he believed he was showing and what the Patriots were willing to see.
Patriots Moved On, Maye Took Over
Of course, the Patriots haven’t looked back. Drake Maye didn’t just take the reins - he ran with them.
Maye is now a 2025 MVP finalist and will lead New England into Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. For a franchise that’s been searching for stability under center since Tom Brady’s departure, Maye’s emergence has been a game-changer.
That leaves Milton in Dallas, backing up Dak Prescott with no clear path to the starting job. There’s been no indication that he’s in line to challenge Prescott anytime soon - but Milton clearly believes he has more to offer. Whether he gets a true chance to show it remains to be seen.
For now, he’s a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder, a cannon for an arm, and a story that’s still waiting to be written.