Dak Prescott is the current and future starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Let’s make that clear.
Prescott has done more than enough over the first three years of his career to earn this “franchise quarterback” title, and the contract he will eventually receive from the Cowboys’ front office.
But that doesn’t mean the Cowboys shouldn’t consider drafting a quarterback this year. Or next year. Or the year after that.
Quarterback is the game’s most important, and highest paid, position. It’s the position where a player can most greatly effect a game individually, both positively and negatively.
And it’s the position you must make sure is accounted for heading into any new season. Yes, the Cowboys clearly trust now fourth-year quarterback Dak Prescott, but adding talent to your QB room is never a bad thing. In fact, it’s typically a great thing.
Behind Prescott are Cooper Rush and Mike White. Rush beat out now-offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for the backup job during the 2017 preseason, and then held off rookie Mike White in 2018 to maintain the job.
When the Cowboys drafted White, however, they had dreams of a new backup quarterback in mind. White didn’t perform as well, or progress as quickly, as some had hoped leaving Cooper Rush as the unquestioned QB2, however.
Is Cooper Rush good enough, though?
This is a question which really is yet to be answered. And if the Cowboys have it their way, it will never be truly answered. He was excellent during the 2017 preseason, no doubt about it. But he was, well, bad last year. Rush and the offense struggled mightily during the preseason, and while lack of offensive line depth didn’t help him, Rush’s play didn’t spark much optimism or excitement either.
The Cowboys would be wise to consider drafting a quarterback later in the 2019 NFL Draft, but they shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about it either way. The backup quarterback, especially behind Dak Prescott, will bring his value in terms of game-planning and aiding Prescott, rather than with his actual arm talent.
