The Dallas Cowboys have a position battle for their backup quarterback spot, though it seems like Joe Milton has the inside track to winning it.
In a Q&A with The Athletic that was released Friday, vice president of player personnel Will McClay offered his opinions of Milton and why he seems like a good fit to sit behind Dak Prescott on the Cowboys QB depth chart.
The Cowboys offloaded a seventh-round pick to acquire Milton from the New England Patriots, but the 25-year-old is not a guaranteed roster player, since he is battling veteran journeyman Will Grier to replace Cooper Rush, who will back up Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens this year.
What Did Will McClay Say About Joe Milton?
McClay admitted he has had strong feelings about Milton since before he even took an NFL snap, when he, executive vice president Stephen Jones and now-Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer scouted him at the 2024 NFL Combine.
“We kind of looked around, and there were some draft opportunities and things. We had actually watched Joe at the combine just me and (Jones) just kind of going, ‘Hey, letâs look at the different guys’ [and it] started to spark the interest a little bit, seeing what was there.”
The Patriots ended up picking him in the sixth round, and he was their third-string QB behind Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett last season.
But the Cowboys became further enamored with Milton during his only start of 2024, when he completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score against the Buffalo Bills, that sealed the deal for McClay.
“It was a part of it,” McClay said, referencing his Week 18 performance. “One of the things that we wanted to do, Schotty talked about coming in when it was his opportunity to improve the depth and the athleticism and all that stuff. We got to increase that room.
“Then, he was available at the right time, for the right costs.”
Will Joe Milton Be The Cowboys’ Backup Quarterback?
Milton has struggled in the preseason. He went 17 for 29 for 143 yards and one touchdown and one interception in Dallas’ first preseason game, a 31-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Still, McClay understands Milton is a raw talent that still needs to learn the nuances of playing quarterback. Despite playing six seasons of college ball, Milton is only 25.
He feels surrounding him with the Cowboys QB incubator, notably Schottenheimer and Prescott, will help him make improvements where they are necessary. His quotes are indicative of a player that will be around the Cowboys all year, and not necessarily just part of the practice squad.
“I just think with that talent, and footballâs about coaching, and coaches make guys better if they want to get better,” McClay said. “Iâm impressed by the fact that Joe is engrossed in what weâre doing and really tying it all together.â©I think the best thing for him was to be around a guy like Dak, to understand what it takes so that talent can come out.”
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