11-08-2025
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel comments on trading QB Joe Milton III
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel commented on the decision to trade Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys back in April, during an appearance on The Greg Hill Show Monday.
The move initially came as a surprise given the upside Milton displayed on the team. There was a thought that the Patriots would have two cracks at finding a franchise quarterback. Drake Maye was obviously the first option, but if he didn't work out or got injured, perhaps Milton would have been good enough to fill that void.
The Patriots ultimately opted to trade him, along with a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, to the Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
"Just another coach's decision. Felt like this is what was best for our team. Trying to do what's best for the team," said Vrabel.
Milton made his debut with the Cowboys on Saturday, and it was a mostly up-and-down performance. There were a few plays that impressed, but there were also plays where he missed open receivers. He went 17-of-29 throwing the ball for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He averaged 4.9 yards per completion and finished with a 58.6 completion percentage.
It's hard not to feel like this decision was made partly so Drake Maye could be the clear starter moving forward. The Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones dynamic did not work well under Bill Belichick, so further competition might not have been ideal for Maye.
Either way, it's clear that Vrabel is confident in his decision.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots coach Mike Vrabel comments on trading QB Joe Milton III
