Roster Review: Backup Quarterbacks – Part 2 of 17
Assuming Dak Prescott is the starter in 2024 – either with an extension or playing out his contract's final year – the Cowboys may have a critical decision to make.
Who to keep as the backup in 2024? Will it be Cooper Rush or Trey Lance?
Because Dallas could be considering drafting Prescott's ultimate replacement in late April.
That player, if drafted, would take the third slot on the roster while he develops. And that means Rush or Lance would have to go.
Frankly, if that is what the Cowboys end up doing in the 2024 draft, then Rush is likely kept. Lance – who Dallas traded for last year – would then be traded away, likely for a pick or two.
It will be a tough call either way. Here's why.
The Case For Cooper Rush
Rush has a 5-1 record as a starter in Dallas on his resume.
On Halloween night in 2021, Rush led the Cowboys to a thrilling 20-16 come-from-behind win over the Vikings in Minnesota.
With Prescott out for the game with a leg injury, Rush went 24-for-40 for 325 yards. He added two touchdowns against one interception.
With 51 seconds left in the game, Rush hit Amari Cooper on a five-yard pass to win the game.
In 2022, after Prescott was injured in the season-opening loss to Tampa Bay, Rush won the next four games as the starter.
The Cowboys' offense was more ball-control during those four games.
Relying on short passes and the running game for the victories.
In his fifth, and final, start of the season, the Cowboys tried to make a statement against the Eagles and opened up the passing game.
After going four games without an interception, Rush threw three costly picks against the Eagles in a 26-17 loss.
It was the only blemish in his six career starts.
He hasn't had to start a game since and in 40 total pass attempts since his third pick against the Eagles he has thrown just one interception.
In short, Rush can win games and for the most part, takes care of the football. That's a solid plus in his favor to remain QB2 in Dallas.
The Case For Trey Lance
Lance will be entering his fourth NFL season in 2024 after not playing a single snap in 2023.
After the 49ers gave up three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up in the 2021 draft, they selected Lance out of North Dakota State.
The move did not pay off for San Francisco. Lance started just four games combined – playing in eight total – over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
He was traded to Dallas last year for the Cowboys' fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft.
So, maybe Dallas already has their project QB in-house. But the only way they find out is if he gets reps as QB2 and they get some actual, post-injury game film on him.
He has shown some flashes of potential, but is it enough to convince the Cowboys to move Rush?
The Case For Keeping Both Quarterbacks
Both Lance and Rush are entering the final year of their contracts.
Lance's contract is for a little over $5 million and there is an option for a fifth year. Rush's is just under $3 million and he'll become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
So, Dallas possibly could get away with keeping both, regardless of what their short-term and long-term plans are regarding Prescott.
And maybe at the end of the day, not trying to draft another quarterback this year is the Cowboys' best move.
Give all three of their current quarterbacks one more year to make their cases.
For Prescott, it would have to be nothing less than getting past the Divisional round for the first time in his career.
For Rush and Lance, they have one year to prove who is the better player. And prove they can be that guy who can get Dallas back to championship games.
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