Cowboys add Taryn Christion to Backup Quarterback Battle

Things just got a little more interesting in the quarterback room. The Dallas Cowboys signed former South Dakota State signal-caller Taryn Christion just ahead of training camp this week.

Currently, Cooper Rush and Mike White are QB2 and QB3 on the roster. The former an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in 2017 out of Central Michigan, and the latter a fifth-round selection in 2018 out of South Florida/Western Kentucky. Neither has yet to firmly take control of who is the true backup to Dak Prescott, making it all the more plausible why this move was made.

Christion had a very productive college career. He holds the record for passing yards (11,535), passing touchdowns (104) and total offense (13,050) for South Dakota State and the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Sprinkle in two All-American and All-Conference honors and a 2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year award for the former Jackrabbit as well.

He’s coming off a 32 touchdown 8 interception season in 2018, a td-int ratio of 4 to 1. With 104 touchdowns and 34 interceptions total in college, his td-int ratio was just over 3 to 1, an excellent pace.

Not only did Christion get it done through the air but he performed well with his legs. Producing 1,515 yards and 26 touchdowns on 408 carries. This dual-threat skillset could possibly give him an advantage in his efforts to challenge the two men in front of him. Also, if he did win the backup role the transition from Prescott to him could potentially be a lot smoother with their similar styles.

In April, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks but was later released when the team acquired veteran Geno Smith. So now he gets his shot with the Cowboys, one that hopefully lasts longer than a few weeks like his previous stop. Something to keep an eye on as training camp is now underway.