As the 2025 NFL Draft plays out in Green Bay in late April, the Dallas Cowboys will hopefully have their eyes on their quarterback of the future.
He could still be on the board in the fifth round too.
I realize I’m still writing this just seconds after watching him lose the ball in a bad center exchange in the Shrine Bowl, but hear me out. Cam Miller could be the sleeper of the draft.
The North Dakota State quarterback just led his team to the FCS Championship earlier this month.
Unlike Trey Lance, another Bison alum, he isn’t a game-manager.
With Dak Prescott, barring injury, set as the Cowboys starter at least through the end of the 2027 campaign, finding his understudy now makes sense.
Give Miller three years as the back-up and see how he develops. That way, when the Cowboys can save $37 million in cap money by cutting Prescott in 2028, they’ll have a starter in place.
Championship Pedigree
Miller won two titles for the Bison. Unlike Trey Lance, who brought home one championship to Fargo, Miller isn’t a run-first quarterback.
Where Lance could never develop into a passing quarterback in San Francisco, or in Dallas, Miller will come into the NFL more polished than his predecessor.
More importantly, Miller will have a championship mentality. Something that is non-existent in Dallas right now.
You want to change the culture in a locker room, or an organization?
Bringing in winners would be a good first step.
It’s Miller Time
In 67 games over four-plus years, Miller was 759-of-1,094 passing with 9,721 yards, 81 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.
He has a strong arm and an accurate one too, something Lance proved to be lacking at the pro level.
When he has to, Miller can motor downfield.
He finished with 2,277 yards and 48 touchdowns on 526 carries. A tidy 4.3 per carry average.
His record over the last four years? How does 51-10 sound?
In the two years that the Bison did not win it all, they made it to one other championship game and advanced to the semi-finals in the other year.
His playoff record over the past four years? He was 14-2.
Remind me again what Dak Prescott’s playoff record is. I believe its 2-5, isn’t it?
Prescott was 34-15 at Mississippi State and didn’t even so much as win the division in the SEC, much less a conference championship or a national title.
With Miller, if Prescott’s injury recovery is hampered, or he suffers another season-ending injury, Dallas has seen they need a strong quarterback to step in.
Neither Cooper Rush nor Lance showed they were capable of doing that. Likely, neither will be back in 2025.
So, the Cowboys had better have their back-up in place, and not some journeyman like Joe Flacco either.
Why It Would Work
For those saying there’s no way a late-round rookie quarterback can produce, may I call your attention to how Prescott ended up as the starter in 2016.
He was a fourth-round pick that year and was expected to hold the clipboard for the last couple of years of Tony Romo’s career.
Romo went down in the preseason and never started again. Romo did get a ceremonial final drive at the end of the regular season.
But it was Prescott’s team and he had a remarkable rookie year.
Unfortunately, the league got a full year of tape on Prescott and the good teams know how to shut him down. Especially in the playoffs.
If you’re looking for a more recent example, look eastward to Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
Daniels isn’t the reason why Washington didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. His teammates’ inability to retain possession of the football did that.
Daniels had a solid NFC title game.
While Miller isn’t a Heisman Trophy winner, he knows how to show up when the lights are brightest.
What Round, Western Man?
Here’s the rub. I’m not about to claim I’m the only person who has their eye on Miller.
I imagine a few other teams would like to grab him later in the draft too.
I doubt he’d be an undrafted free agent, not with his resume.
So, a fourth-round pick on him would be advisable. Unfortunately, Jerry Jones doesn’t know how to hang on to his fourth-round picks.
Or even get good value for them.
Between Lance a couple of years ago and then getting Jonathan Mingo last year in exchange for this April’s fourth round pick, Dallas will have to wait a round.
They dare not use one of their picks from the first three rounds.
Unless a trade is made, the Cowboys’ earliest chance at Miller would be in the fifth round.
Given their quarterback situation, they should take him there if he’s still on the board.
Waiting until the sixth would be risky. Waiting until the seventh would be insane.
Hoping to sign him as a UDFA?
That would be suicidal. And, sadly, SOP at The Star.