Reporters update if Patriots are shopping QB Joe Milton III

New England Patriots backup quarterback Joe Milton III has been the subject of trade rumors since he played well against the Buffalo Bills in a Week 18 game this past January.

ESPN's Mike Reiss may have raised some eyebrows with an update he offered on the Milton situation for an article published Tuesday evening. 

"Milton and his strong performance in a season-ending win over the Buffalo Bills (who were playing mostly backups) has piqued the interest of some teams around the NFL," Reiss wrote, "but not to the point that the Patriots would consider trading him right now, per sources familiar with the situation."

Somewhat interestingly, Patriots reporters Mark Daniels and Karen Guregian of MassLive also addressed Milton's situation on Wednesday morning. 

"The Patriots have received multiple trade inquiries for young quarterback Joe Milton III," Daniels and Guregian shared. "...A source close to the quarterback said Milton would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job."

It's unclear if Milton would find such an opportunity this summer. The Pittsburgh Steelers sound confident they'll soon have Aaron Rodgers as their QB1. The Tennessee Titans appear on track to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Clubs such as the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets addressed the position with other transactions. 

The Cleveland Browns theoretically could be interested in Milton if they don't make Colorado's Shedeur Sanders the draft's second pick and don't trade for Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Browns could target Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Louisville's Tyler Shough later in the draft. 

On Wednesday, ESPN's Field Yates predicted that Cleveland would take Shough at pick No. 33. 

Daniels and Guregian added that there likely won't "be any movement on Milton until after the draft, when teams assess where they are in relation to their respective quarterback rooms." 

It was previously reported that New England could want a third-round pick in return for Milton after he completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown against Buffalo. That may be wishful thinking, but the Patriots don't have to be in any rush to trade the 2024 sixth-round selection, even though Drake Maye is cemented atop the New England depth chart until further notice.