Giants Miss Out on Joe Milton: Could This Be Their Biggest Offseason Regret?

New York, NY

The New York Giants have been busy this offseason trying to upgrade their quarterback room, but they might have just missed a major opportunity. Enter Joe Milton, the buzzworthy quarterback who was traded from the New England Patriots to the Dallas Cowboys this week. The Giants were reportedly one of several teams in the mix for Milton’s services, but in the end, they couldn’t secure a deal—leaving them to face him as a division rival.

According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Giants were among five teams that had eyes on Milton when he became available. The Raiders, Eagles, Steelers, and Cowboys also reportedly expressed interest. But it was the Cowboys who pulled the trigger, trading a fifth-round pick to the Patriots for Milton and a seventh-round pick in return.

Now, instead of developing behind a potential franchise quarterback in New York, Milton heads to Dallas, where he’ll sit behind Dak Prescott. The Giants, on the other hand, added two quarterbacks this offseason—Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston—but these moves don’t solve their long-term problem. Wilson, 36, and Winston, 31, are on short-term deals, and neither guarantees a future as the Giants’ franchise quarterback.

Milton, a standout sixth-round pick from the 2024 draft, could have been the developmental project the Giants needed. He impressed in his lone game last season, completing nearly 76% of his passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and rushing for another score without turning the ball over. His rare combination of size and athleticism made him an intriguing prospect, and it was clear that teams, including the Giants, saw his potential.

However, the Patriots decided to move forward with first-round pick Drake Maye, leaving Milton expendable. Now, the Cowboys get to develop the young signal-caller while the Giants continue to search for their long-term quarterback solution.

Was Milton the one that got away for the Giants? If they want a future at quarterback, the 2025 NFL Draft might be their only hope to find a true franchise signal-caller.