Patriots Spurn Giants In QB Trade

The New York Giants find themselves in a familiar quarterback quandary. Despite the addition of veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the long-term solution under center remains elusive, and the looming 2025 NFL Draft isn’t offering up many elite prospects at the quarterback position. Sitting with the third overall pick, the Giants are feeling the pressure, as there’s no guarantee of landing a franchise quarterback even in later rounds.

That’s why a young, promising quarterback like Joe Milton III seemed like such an intriguing option. The New England Patriots were open to trading him, and the word on the street was that the Giants were keenly interested. Sure, Milton’s got rough edges, but he’s got potential—and crucially, he’s not approaching retirement asking for just one more season to prove himself.

But fate took a different turn. Milton is now a new inductee into the Dallas Cowboys’ lineup.

Despite the fact that more attractive offers were reportedly on the table, including potentially from the Giants themselves, the Patriots honored Milton’s preference in destination. According to insider Jordan Schultz, “The #Patriots had a better offer for Milton but chose to send him where he wanted out of respect for him, per source.”

It seems the Giants were probably one of the teams with a stronger offer on the table. They had the draft capital, a pressing need for a young quarterback, and even recognition by Schultz as a likely contender. Still, the Patriots opted for sentimentality over pragmatism, which feels somewhat surprising for a franchise historically known for its cold, calculated decisions during the Belichick reign.

Joe Milton’s tenure with the Patriots was brief but noteworthy. His single start in Week 18 against a Buffalo Bills reserve squad was respectable—22 completions out of 29 attempts for 241 yards, a touchdown through the air, and one on foot. This performance may not have set the league ablaze, but it showed flashes of promise, mobility, and potential—the very qualities that spark hope in a sport rife with uncertainty.

Now, with Milton backing up Dak Prescott, the Giants face both a missed opportunity and a rival strengthened. The trade marks an unfortunate twist for New York, who passed on a chance to secure a young quarterback laced with potential without mortgaging their future in a lackluster draft class. Instead, they’re left pondering the road they didn’t take, while hoping for better fortunes next year.

Milton could have been a gamble worth taking. He might not have been a dead-set answer, but he was certainly interesting—an opportunity for growth and development.

Instead, he’s off to Dallas, as the Patriots pivot towards a more empathetic stance. It seems like a new dawn without Belichick’s icy touch in the post-Belichick era, where sometimes being the good guys takes center stage.