The Dallas Cowboys only have two quarterbacks under contract right now, starter Dak Prescott and backup Cooper Rush. With only three years of combined experience between them, one could argue that a veteran presence would be useful. Should Dallas make a veteran QB a free-agent priority in the 2018 offseason?
Of course, there’s plenty of other QB experience on the Cowboys staff. Head Coach Jason Garrett played professionally from 1989-2004, and started his coaching career with quarterbacks.
Scott Linehan has been coaching offense with an emphasis on the passing game for 30 years.
Kellen Moore, who is taking over for the departed Wade Wilson as quarterbacks coach, has played very recently and will bring a fresh perspective.
However, losing Wilson’s experience from the room, and the lack of any veteran player at QB, shouldn’t be dismissed.
Dak Prescott has said veteran Mark Sanchez — who was with Dallas in 2016 — was a major help during his whirlwind rookie season. Tony Romo enjoyed veteran advice from guys like Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, and Kyle Orton throughout his playing career.
This isn’t to say Dallas would want to bring in a veteran to knock Cooper Rush down the depth chart. After a surprising preseason, Rush took the backup job from Kellen Moore and certainly has intriguing upside.
If the Cowboys were to add a veteran, that player would have to come in with the understanding he’s competing with Cooper and may not be guaranteed a job.
The good news is that it’ll be a buyer’s market for veteran quarterbacks this offseason.
Guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, and Matt Moore could all be available. Even a player with more pedigree, such as Sam Bradford, may have trouble finding starting work with many jobs taken among the NFL’s 32 teams.
Dallas could even consider bringing back Mark Sanchez, given his previous relationship with Dak Prescott. He only had a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.
Given Prescott’s seeming durability, Dallas will likely only keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster in 2018 and for years to come. Because of that, they may be content to focus on Dak and Cooper Rush, and just get through the offseason with training camp bodies.
However, the case can certainly be made for adding another veteran player with the desire to teach to help these young quarterbacks develop. Prescott was not the same guy in 2017 that we saw as a rookie, and perhaps the absence of guys like Sanchez and Tony on the sideline had something to do with that.
Did I miss something? When was it announced Kellen Moore is the new QB coach? I know it’s been talked about but I don’t recall seeing or hearing that an official decision had been made on that….yet.
You are correct. The author is an idiot.
Here is the answer to made up question. No the Cowboys don’t need a veteran QB and will not sign one other than for camp.
Kellen Moore’s name was floated to a lot of dubious feedback.
I beg to differ about the author. More of a moron than an idiot.
You are correct that Moore has not been made official yet. But the report was from a good source and you haven’t heard about any other candidates yet. Until there is evidence to the contrary, it’s the best assumption we have.
Did you say Sam Bradford might have trouble getting a starting job?? Lol Not at all(Miami,Denver,NY and a whole lotta other teams will take him) . We don’t need no backups Rush is solid. I hope it’s not more of these articles, this one was a waste
Welcome to the offseason, Travis.
Going in to his 3rd season, Dak Prescott is a veteran. He is the veteran back up quarterback we should have.
They should keep at 2 QB , or even #1
COOPER RUSH IS BETTER PASSER THAN DAK. ANY TEAM WITH SENSE WOULD ALLOW COOPER THE CHANCE TO COMPETE FOR STARTING JOB. IF CLEVELAND WAS DUMB ENOUGH ID SWAP THE 1St & 4th in the 1st round for dak. Start cooper and sign a back up
I agree
However this IS the cowboys and most things they make no sense. The things they do are in direct contradiction to what they claim they are trying to do which is win a SB. Until they jettison the red clapping puppet and the owner stays in his box with his yap shut they aren’t going to win anything. GOD help us if by chance they see the playoffs next season because that means he’ll justify keeping the puppet for another season and as the roller coaster goes up and down it’s up one year, down the next….the ONLY seasons they do well in are the ones in which they play weaker teams…….
So Cooper Rush is a better QB huh? What evidence do you have coach? GTFO here with that nonsense. Cooper Rush Performed okay in some damn preseason games against back ups. Let’s cut the BS and say what you really want to say. Lol
I am looking forward to watching Cooper Rush this pre-season. I think he is a pure quarterback with a rifle arm. I sure hope Dallas doesn’t get rid of our good receivers for a Dak friendly offense because that’s what we have had the last two years. I don’t have any confidence in Prescott being the quarterback of the future. It’s too bad because Dallas had planned on bringing him along slowly and then things went well in 16, terrible in 17′. He will only get worse!