Giants could exploit Cowboys’ questionable decision to address quarterback need after Jaxson Dart injury
Joe Milton’s strong arm and favorable contract situation make him an intriguing target for a franchise looking to keep its draft capital intact.
The New York Giants are exploring the quarterback market after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury, and one option would allow them to address the position without surrendering any draft capital. Joe Milton, currently on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, represents an intriguing possibility for a franchise in the early stages of a roster build.
Milton’s winding path to Dallas
Milton originally came to the Cowboys last year in a trade with the New England Patriots that cost Dallas a sixth-round pick. He made the initial 53-man roster but was waived, went unclaimed, and returned to the Cowboys’ practice squad. Any franchise in the NFL can sign a player off another team’s practice squad, opening the door for New York to make this move.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix, the Giants want a quarterback who can serve as a backup behind Jameis Winston this season, competing with Jake Haener for the No. 2 role, while also projecting as a potential competitor for Dart’s starting job in 2027.
Milton fits that profile to a certain extent. He is a developmental quarterback with clear flaws, which explains why he went unclaimed on waivers. But his arm strength is elite, and his physical tools give him a ceiling worth chasing.
Contract flexibility favors New York
The contract math works in the Giants’ favor. If they sign Milton off the Cowboys’ practice squad, they could potentially lock him into a two-year deal, for example, securing him through 2027. Even a one-year deal through 2026 would keep the door open for Milton to stay in the building next season because he would be an exclusive rights free agent, giving New York full control of the situation heading into the following offseason.
For a team trying to accumulate assets rather than spend them, that flexibility is important. The Giants are also exploring potential trades, and plenty of rumors have circulated around Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But a trade would cost draft capital that a rebuilding franchise needs to protect.
Milton would not demand a pick to acquire. He is a young player with physical tools and a favorable contract situation, which checks the two most important boxes for the Giants at this stage. Dallas has invested developmental time in Milton since acquiring him last year. Pulling a player away from a division rival, one the Cowboys clearly valued enough to trade for, would be a smart competitive move on top of everything else.
The Giants may ultimately decide to make a trade for a more established option at the position. But if the goal is to add a high-upside arm without sacrificing future draft picks, signing Joe Milton off the Cowboys’ practice squad is a sensible path forward for New York.
