Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin has suggested that Dak Prescott’s starting job could be under threat after the Dallas Cowboys traded for Joe Milton III.
In a video shared to his YouTube channel, Irvin suggested that Milton could take over in Dallas if given a chance on the field.
Michael Irvin Warns Dak Prescott About Joe Milton III
After the Cowboys traded for Milton, Irvin took to YouTube to express his excitement about the player. Irvin warned Prescott not to give the 2024 sixth-round pick a chance by getting hurt, suggesting that Milton could steal his job.
“Don’t give this kid a chance, Dak. Don’t give this kid a chance,” he said. “You better stay healthy, stay ready, stay on the football field. Now remember, you [are] making 60 [million dollars] a year, this kid [is] only making one. One million a year.”
Irvin suggested that Milton will have his eyes on Prescott’s job, with career ambitions of his own to fulfill. The Cowboys legend’s reasoning for believing in Milton wasn’t based on statistics or film studies, though. Instead, Irvin pointed to the player’s background, finding similarities to his own.
“I didn’t know a whole bunch about him, so I started digging and learning.” Irvin then breaks into a mischievous laugh. “Let me tell you what I learned,” he said. “I learned this dude was born March 6; of course I was born March 5. And this kid was born in Pahokee, Florida.”
Irvin was incredibly excited by his findings, going on to suggest that he knew exactly what kind of character the team had acquired. “We got something now. I know what kind of fight he [has] got in him.”
Does Milton Threaten Prescott’s Job?
In the short term, no.
Prescott is the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon—barring injury. With Prescott’s 2025 salary fully guaranteed, it’s clear that Jerry Jones isn’t one to pay players for doing nothing. The Cowboys’ only two losing seasons since drafting Prescott came when injuries limited him to fewer than 12 games.
Dallas’s dependence on Prescott was once again evident in 2024, as the team struggled with backups Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. With Rush now with the Baltimore Ravens and Lance with the Los Angeles Chargers, Milton steps in as the immediate backup to Prescott.
However, if recent reports are to be believed, the young quarterback isn’t content with just a backup role. The New England Patriots received surprisingly little compensation for Milton, who was only a year into his rookie contract. Milton’s performance in the Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills in January led many to believe the team had a valuable asset on their hands.
In a recent episode of “The Insiders,” Ian Rapoport suggested that Milton’s desire to be a starter and the outside noise about him competing with Maye led to the trade. When a team is struggling on the field, the voices calling for change become louder, which is a situation the Patriots wanted to avoid.
While Milton’s ambition should be seen as a positive, being traded after just one year in the league may be a red flag for some. Milton’s NFL debut was just a brief look at what he can offer, but it showed enough to suggest that the upside is huge.
Prescott should be safe as long as he is healthy and the team is winning games. If that isn’t the case, though, there will be calls for Dallas to find out what it has in Milton.