Dak start packing?

By: Josh Frey-Sam

Picture this: it’s Week 14 and the Dallas Cowboys, wearing a 5-8 record, are fresh off a tough loss in a game the offence never really found its rhythm. It’s the second time in the last three weeks that Dak Prescott has underperformed, and the fan base is growing restless as the team’s playoff hopes slip away for the second year in a row. One reporter asks first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, “Has there been any consideration to a change at quarterback?”

Ah, I can see it now.

The funniest part about that scene is that it actually feels plausible after Thursday.

On a relatively quiet day, the Cowboys acquired quarterback Joe Milton III in a trade with the New England Patriots, sending a fifth-round pick in exchange for the second-year gunslinger and a seventh-rounder.

On the surface, the Cowboys just acquired their backup QB. Who cares, right?

This trade is bigger than what meets the eye, though.

A few of my initial thoughts when this happened:

1. Not surprised the Patriots dealt Milton. This is mostly because the Pats already have their QB of the future in Drake Maye and signed Josh Dobbs this offseason to be the backup. Milton didn’t have a viable path to a starting role in New England, so he became easy trade bait.

2. I understand every team likes a different type of flavour, but how on God’s green earth can an organization that needs a quarterback for the future — the Saints, Giants, Browns, Steelers or even the Raiders — see Milton’s physical traits and not take a swing on him? He cost nothing, and the upside is a potential face of the franchise. The downside was being on the losing end of a Day 3 pick swap— whoop-de-doo.

3. This just dumped a can of gasoline on an already raging fire of trade rumours surrounding Dak Prescott.

Let’s address that third point. A rumour that has circulated over the last week is that Prescott could be traded to the Cleveland Browns.

Do I think Prescott is actually being shopped? No.

Yes, he’s coming off a serious hamstring injury, but he’s had all off-season to recover and should hit the ground running in training camp. Dak is also just 31 years old, is entering the first of a four-year contract extension and has a no-trade clause through the 2028 season.

However, the Cowboys, who just landed a player with incredible upside, might have started a budding QB controversy that will bloom as soon as Prescott falters.

Milton is nothing more than a depth QB option right now, but it’s his potential that will have fans in Big D clamouring to see him on the field.

Simply put, you won’t find five better arms on the planet than Milton’s. He’s also very mobile.

He possesses similar traits to Anthony Richardson, but is older and was perhaps even more erratic in college, which is why he fell to the sixth round last year.

The 25-year-old checks in at 6-5, 235 pounds. He can flat out sling it, but it’s about harnessing that power, improving his accuracy and speeding up his mental process.

He impressed last pre-season and wowed fans in his only start, which came in an inconsequential Week 18 contest against the Buffalo Bills.

Granted, the Bills were resting many of their key starters in that game, but it didn’t take away from what Milton showed. He made several outstanding throws en route to completing 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and one highlight-reel touchdown pass. He also rushed for a touchdown.

I think about one throw in the second quarter where Milton fired a 20-yard seed from the opposite hash on a comeback route. There are just some throws that not everyone can make.

There’s a long way to go before Milton becomes a viable starting quarterback, much less the face of a franchise. This was a shrewd acquisition by Jerry Jones, nevertheless.

Safe to say Prescott’s job is safe… for now.

You can bet that Schottenheimer will be asked about using Milton in a specialized package that uses his legs— that question will be posed long before Week 14

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh