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ESPN analyst outlined a ‘bold’ trade the Patriots could pursue in offseason
"There could be interest around the league."
As the Patriots begin final approach to what promises to be an eventful offseason — the new league year begins on March 12 — one expert thinks New England should consider trading one of its 2024 rookies.
In a larger column about possible “bold moves” in the NFL offseason, ESPN NFL analyst Aaron Schatz dangled the scenario in which the Patriots trade quarterback Joe Milton III. Milton, 24, was a sixth round pick a year ago. He settled into a backup role behind fellow 2024 QB draft pick Drake Maye, and made the most of his lone start (a regular season finale win against the Bills).
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While Milton’s win against Buffalo came at a moment when the Bills were resting multiple players (having already clinched a playoff spot), it was still a game that turned a few heads. Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, showing accuracy and poise.
While other NFL teams in need of a quarterback survey the landscape, acquiring Milton could become an appealing option.
“There could be interest around the league in Milton because of the overall weakness of this year’s quarterback draft class,” Schatz wrote.
Aside from Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward, no other quarterbacks are consistently projected to be first round picks. As a result, the Patriots’ front office could have some leverage with Milton in a potential trade scenario.
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“If New England can turn three more years of a sixth-round pick into four more years of a third- or fourth-round pick, that’s usually going to be a win for a roster,” wrote Schatz. “Especially when the only playing time Milton had during the regular season was a finale game against backups because the Patriots already have their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye.”
Of course, trading Milton would mean New England would need to add another backup behind Maye, but the possibility of acquiring a higher pick than the round he was selected in after just one season could prove too much to turn down.
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