The Giants are considering Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson for their starting quarterback vacancy. They also have the No. 3 overall draft pick and are in range to take Shedeur Sanders.
But Chargers safety Derwin James has a different idea for the Giants.
“I feel like they can hit the Patriots up, try to get a guy like Joe Milton,’’ James said Tuesday on NFL Network.
James didn’t just pick that name out of thin air. Per sources, there is growing sentiment that the Patriots are entertaining trade offers for Milton, their intriguing backup quarterback. In an offseason light on free agent quarterbacks and top draft prospects, Milton, the Patriots’ sixth-round pick last year, is basically a lottery ticket.
At 6 feet 5 inches, with the athleticism to do standing backflips and throw the ball 80-plus yards, Milton might have the most talent of any quarterback available this spring. That talent was on display in the Patriots’ Week 18 win over the Bills, when Milton authored several highlight-reel plays with his arm and his feet, though of course it was against a team that wasn’t really trying.
“I put him on my team in Madden, for sure,’’ James said. “He has all the attributes — big arm, can move, can throw — and I just feel like he just needs a chance. You give him a chance to show what he can do, you never know what you got there.’’
Of course, all 32 NFL teams passed on Milton five or six times in last year’s draft. And he is still very much unproven. But his contract makes him even more worth of a gamble. Milton will make a total of $3.225 million over the next three years ($960,000 in 2025), with no guarantees. That’s league-minimum money for a player who, if he can put it all together, has the potential to be a superstar, at the most important position in the NFL. Even if Milton doesn’t blossom into a superstar, he can be a viable backup quarterback for three more years at little cost.
Drafting Milton last year with the 193rd overall pick was a shrewd move by Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, even after he took Drake Maye at No. 3. Milton was drafted to be traded, and the Patriots have a chance to cash in this offseason with a nice return on investment.
The Patriots probably would like to move Milton this offseason, in part to give Maye some breathing room and remove any doubt that the franchise believes in him. New Patriots veteran backup Josh Dobbs bolsters the depth chart and won’t be threatening Maye’s job. And Milton likely would welcome a trade to a team that gives him a better chance to win a starting job, or at least get on the field.
But trading Milton only makes sense for the Patriots if they can get a Day 2 draft pick — a second- or third-rounder.
Milton is too talented to trade for a fourth-rounder or future draft pick, especially given that he still is under a minimum contract for three more years.
In that case, the smarter move would be to hold on to Milton and give him the three preseason games in August as a trade showcase.
But if the Patriots can turn Milton from a sixth-rounder last year to a third-rounder this year? Giddyup.
Two AFC East rivals probably wouldn’t mind getting their hands on Milton, but it’s doubtful the Patriots would send a lottery ticket to the Jets or Dolphins. Here are the other teams that make the most sense:
Giants: They have just Tommy DeVito on the roster. The Giants need to sign a veteran such as Rodgers or Wilson just to have a Week 1 starter, but that shouldn’t preclude them from acquiring a youngster, too. The big question is, would they rather take Sanders at No. 3 overall (and pay him $38 million guaranteed), or trade a third-rounder for Milton and use No. 3 on a position player such as Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter? I know what I would do.
The Giants have picks at the top and bottom of the third round (Nos. 65 and 99) that could be used in a trade.
Cowboys: They lost backup Cooper Rush to the Ravens, leaving just Dak Prescott and Will Grier. Considering Prescott has missed significant time in three of the last five seasons — including playing just eight games last year because of a torn hamstring — the Cowboys probably need a significant upgrade at backup quarterback. And Milton’s contract is perfect for the Cowboys, who once again are bargain shopping in free agency this year.
The Cowboys have the 76th pick in the third round, which would be a great get for the Patriots. That would give them picks 4, 38, 69, 76, and 77 over the first two days of the draft.
Steelers: They need a quarterback, with only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster. Milton makes sense if Rodgers goes elsewhere, and the Steelers value Milton’s upside over the declining skills of Wilson or Kirk Cousins. Mike Tomlin would be a great coach and mentor for Milton, and the Steelers could start the season with Rudolph but keep Milton on standby if and when things go awry.
The Steelers already traded their second-rounder for DK Metcalf, so the question is whether they’re willing to give up No. 83 in the third round, as well.
Browns: They only have Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett on the roster, and Watson may not play much, if at all, in 2025 because of a torn Achilles’. The Browns probably would prefer a veteran such as Cousins or Wilson to rebound from a 3-14 season. And picking at No. 2 overall, they will be squarely in play for Sanders, assuming Cam Ward goes No. 1.
But mostly, the Browns need a cheap quarterback since they’ll be paying Watson $46 million mostly not to play in 2025, and Milton’s contract certainly fits the bill. The Browns also have multiple picks in the third round (67, 94).
Saints: They have Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and Ben DiNucci under contract, but none are the future of the franchise. Sitting with the No. 9 overall pick, the Saints may get shut out for the second year in a row from the top quarterbacks. It may be worth it to trade one of their three Day 2 picks — Nos. 40, 71, and 93 — for a low-risk, high-upside QB.
Titans: They have only Will Levis and Brandon Allen on the roster, and clearly weren’t thrilled with Levis last year. Milton makes a lot of sense here, but it appears to be trending toward the Titans drafting Ward No. 1 overall and keeping Levis. The Titans also don’t have a third-round pick after trading it to the Chiefs last year.
Raiders: Milton could be mentored under Geno Smith for a year, but the Raiders might be set at quarterback with Smith and Aidan O’Connell. They also already traded one third-round pick for Smith, and might not be keen on trading their other at No. 68.
Vikings: Definitely need a quarterback, with just J.J. McCarthy and Brett Rypien on the roster. But given their long-term goals with McCarthy, a veteran such as Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, or Rodgers makes more sense than Milton.
Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.