Insider shares update on what Patriots could get for QB Joe Milton III

It was reported that the New England Patriots are looking to land a third-round draft pick in return for backup quarterback Joe Milton III after the 2024 sixth-rounder impressed in New England's Week 18 game against the Buffalo Bills in January. 

For a mailbag published on Wednesday, Patriots/NFL reporter Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared that he'd "be pretty stunned if any team gave up a top-100 selection" for Milton this spring. 

"I could see someone taking a flier on him for a Day 3 pick," Breer said about Milton. "Hard to see much more than that."

Milton became the subject of trade rumors almost immediately after he completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown against Buffalo, as the Patriots are happy to have 2024 first-round draft pick Drake Maye as their starter. Nevertheless, it's difficult to imagine any quarterback-needy team giving up a third-round choice for Milton before the upcoming draft begins on April 24. 

It seems likely that the Tennessee Titans will select Miami's Cam Ward, the consensus top quarterback in this year's draft class, as the first pick. The Cleveland Browns could take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 2. The Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide where he will play next season. 

Meanwhile, teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and New York Giants picked up 2025 Week 1 starters earlier this month. 

"He looked good in the Patriots’ Week 18 game against the Buffalo Bills’ backups," Breer added about Milton. "But that alone isn’t going to supersede the six years of evidence from college that put him in the sixth round last year. He wasn’t the answer for either Michigan or Tennessee, winning and then losing the starting job for the Wolverines in 2020, then having to wait until ’23 to start for the Volunteers. Both programs, for what it’s worth, surged after his departure."

Milton is under contract through the 2027 season, so New England doesn't need to be in any rush to trade him. Perhaps the Patriots could get a 2026 top-100 pick for Milton if a starter from a different team goes down with an injury.