Patriots Rumors: Details On Cowboys’ Initial Joe Milton III Trade Offer

According to a new report, there was no bidding war for Joe Milton III before the Patriots traded him to the Cowboys. Despite that, New England apparently did some positive negotiating before making the move.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer offered insight into the Milton trade when he appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Hardy” last week. Breer’s intel painted a much different picture than an initial report from FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

“They had shopped Joe Milton around a bunch,” Breer said on the radio show. “Again, a lot of that communication between the Patriots and the other teams was prompted by the Patriots. And they had one offer. That offer from Dallas was initially a seventh-round pick and they wind up negotiating it upwards.”

The Patriots dealt Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for a fifth-rounder. Dallas moved down the board 46 spots and acquired the second-year gunslinger, who was drafted in the sixth round last April.

“It’s basically a wash,” Breer said.

Schultz reported the Patriots received a better trade offer but sent Milton to the Cowboys because that’s where he wanted. Schultz reported four teams — Raiders, Eagles, Giants, Steelers – all showed interest in Milton.

Breer indicated the Patriots spoke with other teams but didn’t get an offer.

“My understanding is they talked to other teams, and they were shopping him, and this was more the Patriots trying to find a new home for him,” Breer said. “Because they just didn’t think the fit was there in the quarterback room.”

Drake Maye and offseason signee Joshua Dobbs currently make up the quarterback room in New England.