There’s a new quarterback in town and his name is Joe Milton III.
On Thursday, the New England Patriots dealt the quarterback and a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round selection. While harmless on the surface, the trade comes on the heels of an internet rumor circulating last week suggesting Dak Prescott was being traded to the Cleveland Browns.
NFL Network’s Jane Slater quickly shot down the rumor, adding that one of her sources called the idea “fake news,” and the other said the team was “absolutely not” in trade discussions.
Actions sometimes speak louder than words and they travel fast on the internet.
And when the Cowboys trade for a quarterback – even one that figures to be a backup this season – that will get people talking.
Here’s what to know about where the Cowboys stand with Prescott and whether he will be traded.
Will the Cowboys trade Dak Prescott?
There has been no indication that the Cowboys will trade Prescott. The quarterback also notably has a no-trade clause in his contract that runs through 2028, according to Spotrac.
He is on the books with a $50.5 million cap hit for 2025 after signing a four-year, $240 million extension before last season.
Dallas’ trade for Milton does provide some insurance behind the franchise quarterback, however, especially in light of some injuries throughout his career.
Prescott has played just one full season in the last five, including only eight games in 2024 thanks to a partially torn hamstring. Barring a setback, Prescott figures to slide right back in as the starter for Dallas in 2025.
While Milton has gotten plenty of hype and attention this offseason, the former Tennessee Volunteer only played one game for New England in his rookie year. The quarterback flashed plenty of promise in his limited action in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.
Since he was buried on the depth chart in New England, the Patriots opted to explore trade offers given the weakened quarterback class in the 2025 NFL draft, while looking to capitalize on Milton’s combination of athleticism and arm strength.
If the 31-year-old Prescott continues to deal with injuries, Dallas will have a seemingly capable 25-year-old backup in Milton behind him after Cooper Rush, the longtime backup in Dallas, departed for the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
In a world where having a good backup quarterback is necessary, Dallas took advantage of finding one without breaking the bank.
Milton might be suiting up for the Cowboys, but there is no reason to put away those No. 4 Prescott jerseys anytime soon.
