The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.
That notion is lost on Jerry Jones based on his latest trade acquisition.
The Cowboys pulled off a deal for Joe Milton III, sending a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for the signal-caller and a seventh-rounder. This solves their backup issue behind Dak Prescott, although reports quickly surfaced about failed attempts to sign Jacoby Brissett and Drew Lock in free agency.
This is eerily similar to Dallas' acquisition of Trey Lance last year. The Cowboys took a flier on the former No. 3 overall selection, sending a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to see if his career could be salvaged. It blew up in their face, and the North Dakota State graduate's prospects look bleaker than ever after his recent employers went in a different direction.
Cowboys' Joe Milton trade brings back painful memories for fans
Lance didn't work out. That hasn't stopped Jones from gambling on Milton's athletic upside becoming something more under the guidance of Dallas' new coaching staff.
Milton has an absolute bazooka for an arm. He can throw it a mile and is a ferocious force running the football. That's a solid platform from which to build, but his decision-making and ability to fit the football into tight windows need significant work.
There is no pressure on Milton to do anything other than develop away from the spotlight. Prescott is healthy again and will start. The former Tennessee standout will back him up as a development project that could be utilized in special packages that focus on his mobile, physical running style.
The Cowboys have parted ways with mid-to-late round draft picks on players a little down on their luck of late. Jonathan Mingo was the first before the 2024 deadline. Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray Jr. followed this offseason. Jones is gambling on his pre-draft assessments finally coming to fruition, ignoring their different NFL production in the hope they can thrive playing for a high-profile franchise.
Milton comes with more longer-term upside than Lance. He's got three years remaining on his deal, so time is on Dallas' side. The young signal-caller was also highly coveted, with several willing suitors emerging before the Cowboys got their guy.
This isn't a threat to Prescott by any stretch of the imagination. It's also worth remembering he's dealt with some injury issues throughout his career, so finding an intriguing backup with a higher ceiling than anyone Jones thought he could have acquired during the draft was a risk worth taking. And it's only a fifth-round pick when it's all said and done.
Hopefully, for the Cowboys' sake, Milton doesn't become another Lance situation. But one couldn't say that with any confidence right now.
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