While the Dallas Cowboys have patched up some holes in free agency, they still have a lot of work to do before this roster is ready to compete against the NFL's elite.
Cornerback, wide receiver, nose tackle and running back remain huge needs and there aren't many viable solutions left on the open market. Backup quarterback is another sneaky massive hole after Cooper Rush inked a two-year pact with the Ravens to back up two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Multiple Cowboys insiders insist the team will draft a quarterback this year. National insider Ian Rapoport hinted at Dallas selecting a QB as early as the first or second round, but it is far more realistic on day three, where they have three picks in round five.
Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz and Joe Flacco are all available, but it doesn't seem the front office wants to spend more than it needs to on Dak Prescott's next backup.
That did not ESPN's Jeremy Fowler from linking the Cowboys with a trade (!) for an expendable quarterback on an AFC team.
Cowboys linked with possible trade for Patriots QB Joe Milton
Appearing on NFL Live, Fowler said Patriots quarterback Joe Milton, whom the team drafted in the sixth round last year, has interest from "several teams" following the first wave of free agency. While Fowler didn't get into the nitty gritty of Milton's market, he mentioned Dallas as a potential landing spot.
“One team to potentially watch for is the Dallas Cowboys because they are looking for a good backup, a young backup with upside they may not get in the draft, maybe they get in a trade,” Fowler said, via NESN.
On the surface, trading a 2025 draft pick for Milton would make a semblance of sense if the team wants to draft a quarterback.
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Milton has glaring holes in his game despite a six-year collegiate career that included three-year stints at Michigan and Tennessee, respectively. His right arm can be mistaken for a bazooka and allows him to make any throw on the field, but he has an alarming lack of accuracy, timing and touch on his passes.
According to Pro Football Focus, Milton completed less than 40% of his throws beyond 10 yards in his final year at Tennessee in 2023.
The former Volunteer has a great feel for eluding pressure and can turn broken plays into jaw-dropping highlights, but he struggles with the fundamentals. It sounds a lot like Trey Lance, a player the Cowboys gave up on just two years after acquiring him for a fourth-round pick.
It is possible that Brian Schottenheimer thinks he can right the wrongs in Milton's game. That would be quite the project for the first-year head coach, but Milton is an enticing development QB and may possess more upside than any prospect Dallas might draft on day three.
It's an intriguing idea, but there's one massive roadblock.
850 ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi recently revealed the Patriots want a third-round pick (!) for the former Michigan transfer. That would be an outrageous price to pay for a QB drafted in the sixth round just a year ago who hasn't done anything to improve his stock.
A fifth- or sixth-round pick would be a different story, but Dallas should hang up the phone immediately if New England doesn't budge on its asking price.