Cowboys Trade For Joe Milton Works Because Jerry Jones is 'Cheap'

The Dallas Cowboys flirted with the ideas of veteran backups like Jacoby Brissett and Drew Lock as QB stability behind Dak Prescott before pulling the trigger on a player with fewer credentials but more upside.

And it's so far, so good in terms of OTA results.

With Joe Milton, the Cowboys have something else entirely: A "cheap'' ($1 million per year guy) who brings the thrill of the unknown - and the thrill of real talent.

Yes, he’s raw. Yes, he’s inconsistent. But there are Josh Allen-like physical traits - the arm, the build, the tools - and that's the sort of stuff that any coach wants to work with.

And now Brian Schottenheimer is doing just that, and what do you know? Our Mike Fisher at CowboysCountry.com is reporting that "Bazooka Joe'' - at 6-5 and 245, he can toss a football 85 yards - is taking snaps with the second team during practice.

Those other QBs would've cost more, so critics of Dallas owner Jerry Jones have said he went "cheap'' ... 

But here, "cheap'' is "smart.''

The trade cost the Cowboys virtually nothing.

The salary is virtually nothing.

Milton was asked by the Patriots where he wanted to go, and he chose Dallas. ... so Dallas chose him.

Milton just might be developing quickly here. Not to the point where he competes with Prescott ... but to the point where the Cowboys might even feel comfortable putting him in a game.

Milton was less than a year ago but a lowly sixth-round selection.

And today, Milton's eye-popping physical traits being developed while he's learning from Dak's elite strengths (something Joe himself has cited as a benefit)?

Everything here is a plus.

So far, so good.

In a salary-cap league, Jerry's Cowboys chose "cheap.'' And to this point they look smart for doing so.