The reasons for the Patriots’ surprise trade of their backup quarterback are coming into view. New England dealt Joe Milton to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick earlier in April, and while meeting with the media on Tuesday, head coach Mike Vrabel explained why the team did what it did.

Joe Milton will play the upcoming NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys, after falling out of favor with Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots. The New England Patriots are slowly beginning to map out their plans for the upcoming NFL season,

FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots subtracted from their quarterback room earlier this month — trading Joe Milton III to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.