Joe Milton III addresses being traded from Patriots to Cowboys

Quarterback Joe Milton III impressed during the one regular-season appearance he made with the New England Patriots as a rookie this past campaign. 

Thus, some observers were surprised when New England agreed to trade Milton and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys in return for a 2025 fifth-round choice earlier this offseason. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, the Florida native was asked if he was "looking for a fresh start" with the Cowboys following his one season with the Patriots. 

"It did catch me by surprise," Milton said about the trade, as shared by Zach Ragan of A to Z Sports. "Was I surprised? Yes. I woke up around 7:00 a.m., woke up to a call and knew I was getting traded. Only thing I did at that moment was thank God. I'm blessed. Coming here was a blessing. I didn't know it was going to be here. My agent said there were multiple teams that called. I didn't know where I was going to end up. I was just thankful to go somewhere." 

Milton added that he feels "blessed" to be with the Cowboys because he's "back in the heat" and can learn from veteran Dak Prescott while playing for "America's Team." He also likes that Dallas plays home games indoors. 

Some suggested, after the trade became official, that New England could and should have received more in return for Milton. However, subsequent reports hinted that first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wanted Milton out of the building with 2024 first-round draft pick Drake Maye firmly established as his team's starter. It was later reported that someone within the Patriots claimed that Milton was "not a good dude" and didn't know how to fit into a "harmonious quarterback room."

In New England's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills this past January, Milton completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed for a score while facing mostly backup defensive players. 

"I went in there and did what the play caller and head coach wanted me to do, and that’s win the game," Milton said about that outing, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "I didn’t know what was going to happen. It was the last game of the season. I was just going off happy. I went out with a win in my first game ever in the NFL. That’s pretty much all I was thinking about, until two months later and boom, I’m here."

Prescott signed a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $240M with $231M guaranteed last September, so it's unlikely he'll be in danger of losing his starting job anytime soon unless disaster strikes the Cowboys. For now, Milton can focus on continuing to develop as a pro quarterback and as a teammate following what may have been a rocky season with the Patriots.