There’s been plenty of speculation this offseason about what’s in store for former Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton, who is entering his second season with the Dallas Cowboys.

Milton, a sixth-round selection by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, was traded to the Cowboys following his rookie season.

The former Vol spent last season as the primary backup to Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll serve in the same role in 2026.

Joe Milton is officially facing a quarterback competition in Dallas

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys signed veteran quarterback Sam Howell.

At the time, it was unclear if Howell was going to compete with Milton for the backup quarterback job. Many fans, in fact, believed Milton had the job locked down due to his upside and impressive physical attributes (like his rocket arm).

But according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, there “will be battle for the No. 2 job behind Prescott.”

“Acquired in a trade last year from the New England Patriots, Milton wowed with his arm strength last spring and into training camp,” wrote Archer. In four regular-season appearances in 2025, he completed 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He played in the second half of the finale and was picked off.

“The Cowboys signed Sam Howell in free agency with a $2 million guarantee, so there will be a battle for the No. 2 job behind Prescott. Milton can show a growing understanding of the scheme in his second year in the offense by not just relying on his powerful arm.”

Milton is essentially in the same situation that fellow former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was in a year ago with the Detroit Lions. Hooker ended up getting released just before the start of the 2025 NFL season after losing the battle for Detroit’s backup quarterback job to Kyle Allen.

It looks like Milton will have to perform better than Howell this summer to avoid the same fate that Hooker suffered in 2025.