The Pittsburgh Steelers are running out of quarterback options, as the team lost Justin Fields to the New York Jets and also saw one of their potential targets, Sam Darnold, sign with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.
All signs currently point to the Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers or bringing back Russell Wilson to be the starter in 2025. However, Pittsburgh also needs depth at quarterback with Fields’ departure, so general manager Omar Khan should explore a trade for New England Patriots signal-caller Joe Milton III.
According to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Patriots have had discussions about trading Milton, as the franchise already has their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, and also signed Josh Dobbs to a two-year deal on Monday.
“The Patriots have had discussions on trading QB Joe Milton III and would like to trade him to the right situation to continue his development in the NFL — should a deal get done. New England loves Milton, but Drake Maye is their franchise and they just signed Josh Dobbs to a 2-year, $8M contract to be the backup,” Schultz wrote.
Milton appeared in just one game for the Patriots last year, which came in Week 18 versus the Buffalo Bills. The former Tennessee standout posted a brilliant performance to close a rough 2024 season for New England, tossing for 241 yards and a touchdown with a 75.9% completion rate and a 111.4 passer rating. Milton also added a score on the ground and led the Patriots to a 23-16 win over the Bills.
Adding Milton to serve as the backup behind their starter would be an excellent move by the Steelers. The 25-year-old won’t cost too much to acquire, is on a cheap contract, and would be a nice developmental project behind a veteran signal-caller.
Obviously, Milton isn’t a starting-level quarterback, but his potential and dual-threat ability are intriguing, and Pittsburgh should take a flyer on the former sixth-round pick.
