NFL Trade Rumors: Patriots Set Asking Price For Joe Milton III

The Patriots reportedly want a return on their investment and then some to move on from Joe Milton III.

The idea of New England trading Milton was birthed in Week 18 when the rocket-armed quarterback shined in the Patriots’ win over the Buffalo Bills. With Drake Maye locked in as the franchise quarterback in Foxboro, Mass., Milton suddenly became a valuable trade chip with an excellent performance against the AFC East champions.

There’s been no indication that the Patriots are actively shopping the 25-year-old, but they reportedly have let interested parties know what they’re looking for in a potential deal. According to 850 ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi, New England has established a third-round pick as the asking price for the Tennessee product.

Fetching such an asset would be a major win for the Patriots after taking the very flawed signal-caller in the sixth round of last year’s draft. While that might seem like a steep price for an NFL sophomore who’s only played one game, teams can become very desperate to improve their QB situation. And that could be especially true this year, which features a weak draft class behind center.

Should New England ultimately find a trade for Milton, backup quarterback duties will likely fall to Joshua Dobbs, who joined the Patriots on a two-year deal at the outset of free agency.