With all the improvements the Patriots roster needs this offseason, it would have been incredible luck if they had players on the team who could be easy trades, whether to acquire the caliber of players they desired or to add more draft capital to their stockpile. Unfortunately, they don't have that luxury this offseason, with just one exception.
There was a lot of speculation about the future of quarterback Joe Milton III in New England after his impressive showing in the season finale win over the Bills. Although the reigning AFC East champions rested most of their starters, the rookie quarterback performed far above expectations and stood out to teams needing a signal caller for the 2025 season.
That immediately put Milton at the top of the list of possible tradeable players for the Patriots this offseason, yet not much has been made about that coming to fruition. There has been some chatter to suggest conversations have been had, but nothing concrete enough to believe it will happen any time soon.
To one extent, it's not a bad thing because it's great to have a solid backup or two behind your starter, which the Patriots have with Milton and their most recent signing, Josh Dobbs. However, if the opportunity arises, there is room to add more draft picks this year or next by trading Milton.
At least one team who could benefit from making a deal for the quarterback might not be interested, however, due to the asking price from the Patriots, and that's not a great look for a team that could greatly use more picks to draft players for their roster.
The Patriots alleged asking price for QB Joe Milton III might need to be changed if they want to make a deal happen this offseason
With limited quarterbacks deemed worthy of a starting role in the upcoming draft, the Patriots are in a good spot to trade a standout backup like Milton before the first round starts.
The problem is their rumored asking price appears to be deterring teams who should be interested, at least according to Browns' analyst Tony Grossi in his latest column for The Land on Demand.
"Sources closer to the situation than me expect the asking price of the Patriots to be a third-round pick. I’m not sure I’d make that deal, but I would definitely inquire to see if some conditions could be negotiated to make the deal more equitable. What about a fourth-round pick in 2026 that improves to a third if Milton plays a certain percentage of offensive snaps? He’s an intriguing talent, but far from a developed product."
A third-round pick doesn't seem too egregious, considering how valuable finding the right quarterback is in the NFL. However, it might be too much for a team that needs far more than just a quarterback to turn the team around.
That doesn't mean the Patriots should be quick to lower their price tag. There might be a team desperate enough to pay that to acquire Milton if they strongly believe he is the right guy for the job.
But if that seems to turn too many teams away, Mike Vrabel and Co. will need to seriously consider lowering their demand to a fourth-rounder, especially since Milton was a sixth-round selection just one year ago. It would be a huge missed opportunity not to do that if a deal can get done.