New England Patriots
“I went through 16 games and I can count on my hand how many reps I got. So I feel like I didn’t get better.”
Joe Milton only played one season in New England. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff)
February 4, 2026 | 10:49 AM
2 minutes to read
Joe Milton has no regrets over how his first (and only) season in New England came to a close.
The rocket-armed QB — drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft — closed out his rookie year with the Patriots by making a start against the Bills in Week 18 — completing 22-of-29 throws for 241 yards and a touchdown in a 23-16 victory.
Just a few months later, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaking on WEEI Tuesday, Milton shared that he made the request for a fresh start elsewhere.
“It was a part of my decision to make that happen,” Milton said of his trade to the Cowboys. “I went to my agency and told them that I wanted to leave — just because it was the best opportunity for me. I went through 16 games and I can count on my hand how many reps I got. So I feel like I didn’t get better.
“That was something that I kept asking my coaches there, like, ‘Why did I get drafted here?’ So I didn’t just want the feeling like I’m begging someone just for an opportunity. Not saying I had to beg them.”
The writing was on the wall that Milton wasn’t going to leapfrog Drake Maye on the depth chart — especially with the fellow rookie showcasing plenty of promise in his first year.
But Milton took umbrage with the fact that he wasn’t earning backup reps as the season progressed — despite what he showcased during practices.
“How I play in the game is how I practice. Like my shoelaces not tied, I’m running over y’ all defense. I’m throwing the ball over your head,” he said. “It got to the point at the Patriots, I’ll be honest, I got to the point where I threw a deep ball to my left over [Christian Gonzalez].
“And while the ball was in the air, I turned around, just looking at [Jerod] Mayo, Eliot [Wolf] was right there, and they couldn’t do nothing but just look at the ball. The ball got completed. He scored. And they just shook their heads.”
While Maye eventually took over as New England’s starter in Week 6, Milton remained entrenched as the team’s emergency third QB all the way until that regular-season finale.
“I think it wold have been different if when Jacoby was a starter, Drake was the backup. I was the emergency quarterback,” Milton said. “When you move Drake up to start, what should Jacoby now do? You keep him at the two because he’s a vet, but he’s not taking reps. It’s just me and Drake, the only ones practicing, but he’s still the two. I just felt disrespected.”
Milton did move up the depth chart this past season in Dallas — serving as Dak Prescott’s backup. He appeared in four games, completing 62.5 percent of his passes and throwing for 183 yards with a touchdown and two picks.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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