Cowboys $4 million trade candidate could receive interest from Packers, Steelers, Rams and Jets

Cowboys $4 million trade candidate could receive interest from Packers, Steelers, Rams and Jets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys traded for quarterback Joe Milton III from the New England Patriots last offseason to serve as the backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott.

However, an NFL analyst believes Dallas should look into trading Milton after just one season, with the draft as a possible time to make the move.

Joe Milton named Cowboys top NFL Draft trade candidate

USA Today's Jack McKessy listed Milton as a player the Cowboys should trade during the draft next week in Pittsburgh.

"Milton has a cannon for an arm but has struggled with developing the other necessary tools to be an NFL starter – or even a top-end backup," McKessy said. "They could benefit from trading an enticing-yet-raw quarterback like Milton for some extra draft capital to build up the defense rather than potentially cutting him after training camp."

Milton appeared in four games in 2025, totaling 183 passing yards on 15 completions with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Tennessee product also added 50 yards on the ground.

During the 2025 preseason, Milton completed 36 of 55 passes (55%) with two touchdowns and one interception, along with 61 rushing yards and a score.

Though Milton has shown promise as a dual-threat signal-caller, Dallas signed Sam Howell to a one-year deal in March to compete with him for the starting spot. There's a chance the Cowboys don't even give Milton a chance to return as the QB2 and just hand the keys over to Howell.

Packers, Steelers, Rams, and Jets could show interest in Milton

If Dallas entertains trade talks for Milton, the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Jets could be among the interested teams.

Green Bay, Los Angeles, and New York already have solidified starters, but could use more depth in their quarterback rooms. Milton could step in and earn a backup spot with the Packers, Rams, or Jets.

Matt LaFleur and Green Bay especially jump out as a fit for Milton. Malik Willis had a ton of success and grew as a player in two years with the Packers before departing for the Miami Dolphins in free agency, and Milton could follow that same recipe.

Pittsburgh doesn't know who its starting quarterback will be in 2026, and Milton isn't ready to fill that role. However, the Steelers could take a flyer on the former sixth-round pick and see what new head coach Mike McCarthy can do with the raw talent.

The Cowboys will likely hold on to Milton past the draft, but a trade is possible in the near future.

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