Steelers Now
The New England Patriots have received multiple trade inquiries for quarterback Joe Milton III, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.
The New England Patriots are taking calls on quarterback Joe Milton III, who could be looking for a fresh start following his rookie season, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.
“According to multiple sources, the Patriots have received multiple trade inquiries for young quarterback Joe Milton III,” Daniels writes. “It remains to be seen if the Patriots will ultimately deal Milton. However, there does seem to be motivation on the player’s side to be moved. A source close to the quarterback said Milton would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.”
Daniels didn’t reveal which teams have inquired about the 25-year-old quarterback, but it’s safe to assume the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of them and they could provide him what he’s looking for with only quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson under contract.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan also recently said that trading for a quarterback is still on the table as the wait for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision drags on.
“We always go to training camp with four quarterbacks, and we have two under contract right now,” Khan said. “So all options are on the table through free agency, trade or the draft, obviously.”
Milton is a very intriguing option for Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-5, 246-pound quarterback has a rocket arm and dual-threat ability.
In the Patriots’ Week 18 upset over the Buffalo Bills, Milton completed 22 of 29 passes (75.9%) for 241 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 111.4 passer rating.
However, the small sample size presents a risk for interested teams. That’s why the asking price could be the difference in landing him.
According to insider Tony Grossi, the Patriots are expected to be asking for a third-round pick in exchange for Milton.
If that’s true, it may just rule the Steelers out since they’re already without a second-round pick due to their trade for wide receiver. DK Metcalf.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Palm Beach, Fla.
