The Dallas Cowboys landed a new quarterback on Thursday when they sent a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Joe Milton and a seventh-round pick.
It took a little while for the exact details to emerge, but we finally learned about an hour after the trade that Dallas was sending pick number 171 to the Patriots and receiving 217 in return. To be clear 171 was the higher of Dallas’ compensatory selections in the fifth round with 174 being the other.
Keeping track of the picks that the Cowboys have has proven to be a bit more difficult than in recent seasons. We are barely in the first week of April and they have now executed three different trades involving draft capital. This is why we take notes, though.
2025 Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks, Updated After The Joe Milton Trade
- 1st Round (12th overall)
- 2nd Round (44th overall)
- 3rd Round (76th overall)
- 5th Round (149th overall)
- 5th Round (174th overall) [compensatory pick]
- 6th Round (204 overall) [from Kaiir Elam trade]
- 6th Round (211th overall) [compensatory pick]
- 7th Round (217 overall) [from Joe Milton trade]
- 7th Round (239th overall) [from Kenneth Murray trade]
- 7th Round (247th overall) [from Jonathan Mingo trade]
The Cowboys still have 10 draft picks from a quantitative standpoint. They originally had six at season’s end and received four compensatory selections to add to the list. While they have traded picks on three different occasions, each time they have done so they have received a pick in return (which has added to the confusion).
Each of the trades that Dallas has made involved picks on Day 3 being exchanged and obviously involved a veteran joining the Cowboys roster.
- Dallas dropped 34 spots to acquire Kaiir Elaim (moved from 170 to 204)
- Dallas dropped 51 spots to acquire Kenneth Murray (moved from 188 to 239)
- Dallas dropped 46 spots to acquire Joe Milton (moved from 171 to 217)
This is very smart, efficient and shrewd from the front office. We have implored them to do these exact kind of things (like they did a couple of years ago with Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks) in the name of capitalizing on veterans who are available that can fill roster holes before the NFL Draft.
