Joe Milton reacts after being traded to Dallas Cowboys

Joe Milton is headed to the Cowboys, and he couldn’t be more excited to get to Dallas. After the Patriots sent him to the NFC East squad for a fifth-round pick, the former Tennessee and Michigan quarterback waxed poetic about the franchise — it’s evident he’s exuberant at the opportunity to play for Big D.

“My family grew up a Cowboys fan. My mom always had a Cowboys shirt on. She always talked about them. Living in Texas has been a longtime dream of mine. And now I’m with them,” Milton told FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. “I’m ready to work.”

That’s exactly the attitude that will endear Milton to Cowboys fans as he makes a name for himself in Dallas. Schultz added that Milton chose his new team over a couple of other interested parties, such as the Raiders, Eagles, Giants and Steelers, as the Patriots opted to send him where he wanted out of respect for him.

Moving forward, Milton, who’s headed into Year 2 in the NFL, will be looking to make the Cowboys proud. He thought he was going to be the backup to fellow second-year man Drake Maye with the Patriots, but instead he’ll head to Dallas to backup a veteran in Dak Prescott, hoping to learn and grow as an NFL player in 2025.

The trade rumors have been swirling since New England signed fellow former Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs to a two-year deal earlier this offseason. That’s when the strong-armed Milton has become a coveted trade option for NFL teams seeking a talented backup quarterback with serious upside. The Cowboys bit, and Milton is headed to his dream destination.

Moreover, the former Vols star was drafted by the Patriots with the 193rd-overall pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He shined when he replaced Maye in last season’s finale. Milton completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills, who were resting many of their starters before the NFL Playoffs.

Previously, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport didn’t see a trade happening any time soon regarding Milton, but that’s how quick things can change in the NFL, as he’s on his way to Dallas as of Thursday afternoon.

“I have not heard any traction on a Joe Milton trade. I haven’t. I’ve asked plenty, I have not heard any traction,” Rapoport said on Tuesday’s The Pat McAfee Show. “I will think about this like I always think about quarterbacks — yes, could the Patriots get value for Joe Milton? They really could. Like, they really could. He is cheap, he is promising, when he played, he looked good.

“Here’s the problem: he may have to play for the Patriots. I have no idea what’s going to happen with Drake Maye, God forbid he gets injured or something, which would be terrible but sometimes does happen. He might have to play,” Rapoport added. “So, what would it be worth it to the Patriots to trade him for where you say, ‘we have to deal him, we’re getting this, and we’re not going to worry about our backup quarterback.’”

Joe Milton will take his talents to Dallas, where Cowboys fans will hope he grows into a potential star for the organization in the future. He has the right attitude, and while Dak Prescott is the present, nothing is guaranteed moving forward, as long as the second-year quarterback handles his business.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.