Andrew Buller-Russ
With Drake Maye at less than 100 percent, the New England Patriots turned to backup quarterback Joe Milton to start in the regular season finale. The gunslinger impressed, completing 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, making several eyebrow-raising throws. He also added 16 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
Since then, according to NFL analyst Steve Palazzolo, multiple QB-needy teams have apparently inquired about trading for Milton. Let’s look at six potential trade destinations for Milton this offseason.
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Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford will be 37 next season. So unless Stetson Bennett suddenly shows signs of being a franchise quarterback, the Los Angeles Rams might want to bring in a contingency plan this offseason. They might not find a player with a higher ceiling than Milton, who has shown to have a very lively arm and can spark an offense in a hurry.
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Indianapolis Colts
In a perfect world, Anthony Richardson will develop into a superstar. But there’s a reason the Colts have only gotten 15 starts out of the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Both having durability and consistency issues, it’s time to admit that Richardson may not be the future in Indianapolis after all. Meanwhile, Milton would present a fine alternative option if the Colts want a player who can execute downfield throws.
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New York Jets
We can pretty much can this idea. There’s no way the New England Patriots would trade a quarterback to their AFC East rivals. However, if the New York Jets could present them with an offer too good to refuse for the former sixth-round pick, perhaps a deal could be had after all. It likely doesn’t hurt that both teams have fired their head coach, so its not like Milton can bring any trade secrets to New York.
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New York Giants
There’s no franchise quarterback on the New York Giants’ roster. That needs to change. Ideally, it gets done through the draft, but with the Giants slipping to fourth in the draft order, they need to face the potential reality that neither Shedeur Sanders nor Cam Ward will be available by the time they’re on the clock. Trading for Milton would at least give them a QB with a high ceiling.
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Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders, picking sixth, are in an even tougher spot as they search for a quarterback this offseason. There are only two quarterbacks projected to be selected in the first round. This means the Raiders will likely have to sign yet another veteran, as they did last year with Gardner Minshew, yet if it were us, we’d be calling about the availability of Milton.
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Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles injury setback, which means the only active quarterback expected to be healthy for the start of the Cleveland Browns’ season is Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Rumors have suggested they could pursue someone like Kirk Cousins, but his price tag could get tricky, depending on his possible Falcons departure. Meanwhile, Milton is especially affordable since he is heading into the second year of a four-year rookie contract as a former sixth-round pick.
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