Why Did the Patriots Trade Joe Milton? Rumors Reveal Details

When the New England Patriots head into the 2025 NFL Draft in a few weeks, there’s no question that walking away with as much young talent as possible is going to be a massive priority.

That’s why the departure of Joe Milton last week seemed like a move that would help them. The club flipped the former 6th-round selection in the 2024 Patriots Draft for a fifth-round selection from Dallas, albeit it also cost them a seventh-round pick.

Still, it’s entirely possible that the additional fifth-round pick they acquired could provide some added flexibility when it comes to landing a player they like.

Any extra currency gives them more ammunition to trade up, which, in an offseason where they’re still significantly bereft of talent at key positions, could certainly come in handy.

However, it sounds like the move was less about strategy and more about necessity. Since Milton was shipped off to the Cowboys, rumors have been swirling when it comes to why New England moved him, with some interesting details having come to light.

The majority of reports have indicated it was more of a culture thing than anything else, removing the possibility of multiple “camps” in the locker room when it came to the two young quarterbacks. The franchise is invested in Drake Maye, and so far, he’s rewarded that faith. He’s shown enough where he can be the future player and leader they need, and they’ve put their eggs in the former Tarheel’s basket.

But one report makes it sound like the decision might have come down to Milton’s confidence level and where he felt he stood when it came to his place against his fellow quarterback.

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19) runs against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

Following the season finale against the Bills, Milton definitely left a good impression. He was solid in his lone showing, completing 22-of-29 (75.9%) for 241 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing TD. You could argue it was against second and third string players, but good players are supposed to beat up bad competition, and we’ve obviously seen plenty of average guys play average – or worse than average – in those situations.

Milton didn’t do that, and Mike Vrabel actually praised him for that last week.

“Yeah, I think Joe did everything that they asked him to do last year,” said Vrabel prior to the trade. “It sounds like in conversations that he worked extremely hard and that’s tough when you’re a quarterback. Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to be the starter, and that’s great to have that attitude.”

“He was ready for his opportunity there late in the season, which I commend him on, just like I would any player that sat there and went through a long season, a difficult season and then got the opportunity, went out, won a football game, played well, helped his team win. Then where that leads to, we’ll see as the draft approaches or where Joe is on April seventh to start our offseason program. But you have to give Joe credit for being ready to go, going from the third quarterback to being able to win that football game and stay ready and stay hungry. ”

Oct 27, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws a pass against the New York Jets in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

(PHOTO: David Butler II-Imagn Images)

Patriots Wanted to ‘Clear the Decks’

Some would argue that you can never have too many good quarterbacks on your roster. However, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston explained on a recent episode of Tom Curran’s Patriots Talk Podcast with Phil Perry that Vrabel preferred to remove any potential distractions ahead of the players returning to the stadium on Monday for the offseason program. They obviously felt that included Milton.

“This move with Joe Milton is interesting because, from what I’ve gleaned, the Patriots really just wanted to clear the decks for Drake Maye,” said Curran. “Josh Dobbs is going to be the backup. And given Milton’s performance, there seemed to be a sense that Joe believed the gap really wasn’t that big between he and Drake Maye. So instead of having a guy who’s like, ‘Man, I’m pretty good too here,’ just clear the decks. Robert Kraft probably didn’t help that at the end of the season, taking about, ‘We might have two starting quarterbacks.’ Be that as it may, he’s gone.”

“The fact that the Patriots did it before OTAs gives you yet another new broom sweeps clean move that they made. I’ve also come to understand, nobody made a true offer, but the Cowboys, which is what Albert Breer reported. And this really punctures the notion that Joe Milton was going to bring back a third-round pick.”

Phil Perry also feels the return was low, but that he agrees the effect in the locker room was also likely a factor in the Patriots making the move.

“The return is relatively low, but I think back to Vrabel’s comment, Tom, when I hear you say, ‘Joe Milton didn’t think the gap was all that big between he and Drake Maye,’ – I immediately go back to Mike Vrabel saying in his opening press conference as head coach of the Patriots that he’s going to ‘rid entitlement from the building.’ That feels a little entitled,” said Perry. “That feels like you don’t know you’re role. So it doesn’t surprise me, given Vrabel’s desire to have the kind of locker room culture that he wants, that he went ahead and made this move.”

Did Drake Maye Want Milton Traded?

When asked if the move was done to accommodate Maye, or if Maye had anything to do with it, Curran cleared the air adding it was simply a culture move by Vrabel.

“No, that’s not what I gathered from the limited conversations and information that I’ve gotten,” said Curran. “‘Clear the decks’ so that there’s no distractions. We’ve kind of had this indicated to us from sources throughout the offseason how vital it is that Drake Maye – on a really s****y team with a massively challenged offense – is not dealing with distractions. That was their goal.”

While Curran more or less confirmed that it wasn’t done at the behest at Maye, The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reported last week that both Milton’s selection last April and his playing time in Week 18 apparently didn’t sit well with Maye’s family.

“Indeed, a league source said last month at the NFL Combine that Maye’s family was not thrilled when Milton was drafted,” wrote Volin. “Maye also didn’t look too pleased about giving up the Week 18 game to Milton, leaving the locker room without speaking to reporters and then skipping locker room cleanout day.”

While Maye’s family not being pleased is understandable (it’s doubtful any of them will ever be thrilled with the club taking a quarterback), Volin’s interpretation of Maye’s reaction following that week 18 game feels misguided. Maye’s reaction likely had more to do with head coach Jerod Mayo’s firing (which happened less than an hour after the game), signaling his mentor – offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt – was also out. That’s likely the real reason why he skipped his remaining media appearances.

Make no mistake, Maye likely knows about the fact that even Tom Brady had players selected behind him throughout his career, and there’s a simple fact that comes with that. Quite simply, in the NFL, quarterbacks really can control their own destiny. Continue to work hard and play well, and you’ll remain the starter. Take your foot off the gas or start feeling sorry for yourself, and that’s usually when guys get derailed. Brady never did and the result speaks for itself.

For Maye, the one thing he now needs to prove is that he’s got that clutch gene and can consistently battle back late in games and finish off comebacks. If he left 2024 with any negative impressions or any type of “incomplete,” that’s probably the one thing fans are looking for in 2025.

For now, Milton is gone and everyone in the locker room knows the deal and what direction they’re all rowing in. Now – with the decks cleared – the rest is up to Maye and the guys around him to meet that challenge.

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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Tags: Drake Maye Joe Milton