Photo by Greg M. Cooper / AP Photos
The Patriots sent second-year quarterback Joe Milton and a 7th-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for… drum roll… a 5th-round pick.
Just days after the Red Sox were the talk of the town for signing Crochet and Campbell to great deals, the Patriots just stole the headlines right back by getting fleeced by Jerry-effing-Jones.
Where do I even begin with this move.
All off-season, rumors were circulated that Joe Milton might get traded for a draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after his impressive performance in a throwaway week 18 game against second-stringers on the Bills.
Milton was drafted in the 6th round (pick 193) last year out of Tennessee, and was seen to be a project QB incase the Drake Maye experience failed.
Milton is known for having a cannon of an arm with really good athleticism for his 6’6’’ frame, but he was noted to have poor accuracy and decision-making.
If there was anything the ex-Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt did well last year, it was developing Maye and Milton.
Milton showed promise in his pre-season snaps and was quite dominant against the Bills’ backups. This made the 6th-round pick premium trade bait for an additional pick in this year’s draft.
Rumors circled about a 3rd or 4th rounder coming the Patriots’ way for Milton. Some even (unrealistically) thought a 2nd rounder could be on the table.
Instead, the Patriots basically did a 5th and 7th round pick swap, while throwing in their promising backup QB.
Here’s my big takeaway: WHY would you possibly trade him if THAT is what the return is? They traded the 193rd pick last year for this years 173rd pick, AND threw in a 7th rounder.
Why wouldn’t you just keep the promising backup, not sign Josh Dobbs, and see if you can develop him even more if that’s all you were gonna get?
I was totally onboard with flipping Milton for a higher pick, but this is not at all what I and fellow Patriots fans had in mind.
Jordan Shultz then reported that the team worked closely with Milton to let him go to a team that he desired.
Schultz said, “The Patriots had a better offer for Milton but chose to send him where he wanted out of respect for him, per source.”
What. The. Hell.
Joe Milton was on this team for a cup of coffee and played in ONE game. Why do the Patriots owe him ANYTHING?
If the team really left better offers on the table, that is unacceptable. Borderline malpractice.
All of this could, in theory, be washed away IF the player the Patriots get with the 173rd pick turns out to be really good AND Milton is a bust. But looking at the deal as it stands today, the Patriots blew this one.
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