Joe Milton III: From Backup Limbo to Thriving Heir in "America's Team"

Joe Milton III knows the role of a backup. After his rookie season with the Patriots, he was traded, swapping one bench for another. But far from discouraged, the quarterback is bursting with enthusiasm upon landing with the Cowboys, seeing the move as a golden opportunity to carve out his place in the NFL.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2024 draft by New England, Milton faced the immense shadow of Drake Maye, the star picked at the top of the same draft. His fate seemed to be that of a perpetual backup. Everything changed in the final week of the regular season. With an unexpected chance to start, Milton unleashed his powerful arm and raw talent on the field, impressing Dallas enough to move mountains and bring him in.

"Surprised? Yes," Milton admitted about the trade. "I woke up around 7 a.m. to a call... and I knew." But surprise gave way to euphoria. In Big D, Milton isn’t lamenting; he’s celebrating. Now, he’s locked in a direct battle with Will Grier for the coveted role as immediate backup to star Dak Prescott.

"In that moment, all I could do was thank God," Milton confessed fervently. "Coming here was a blessing. I didn’t know my destiny... I was just thankful to have a job. [But now] I’m back in the heat, for starters. He allowed me to play in a dome, second. And third—it’s America’s Team. Plus, it’s incredible to learn from someone like Dak."

If Maye blocked his path in New England, in Dallas the obstacle is even greater: Prescott isn’t just the undisputed starting QB—he’s the league’s highest-paid player at $60 million annually. Yet the backup’s importance is critical. Prescott, recovering from a serious hamstring tendon injury (which ended his last season), has already missed 25 games over the past five years. His potential absence would open the door for Milton or Grier.

And here lies the Cowboys’ gamble. Grier, whose last start in 2019 was disastrous (0-2, 4 INTs, 0 TDs), has a limited track record. Milton, in contrast, is a raw diamond. His arm is a cannon, though his accuracy needs refining. But his explosive performance in that win over the Bills (albeit against backups)—22/29 passes, 241 yards, 1 passing TD + 1 rushing TD, escaping and throwing under pressure with impressive off-platform darts—was a convincing glimpse of his potential.

It was that showcase that brought him to Dallas. And he arrives aware of his unique value in the new QB room: "It’s great, man. All three of us have different styles. Dak brings experience, Will’s lived football his whole life... and me? I didn’t grow up with a QB coach. My weapon is athleticism—I bring extra tools. I learned on the fly. Together, we shape each other."

The Cowboys made a low-risk gamble for potentially high reward. If Prescott falters or falls, Joe Milton III—the former backup who turned a single chance into a ticket to "America’s Team"—will be ready to unleash his raw talent and prove Dallas hit the bullseye.