Cowboys interested in another QB heading into combine

Hooker suffered a season-ending ACL tear, yet he should be ready for training camp and is 2023's No.5 QB prospect, per ESPN's Jordan Reid. 

"A poised passer who can decipher and deliver with anticipation, he finished the season with 3,135 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions," Reid wrote.

Hooker is possibly the second QB on Dallas' draft board. SI.com's Mike Fisher recently reported its "intrigued" by Ohio State's C.J. Stroud. 

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay predicts that Houston will select Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick, well out of Dallas' range (No. 26 pick). Hooker may be the contingency plan since he's a projected second-rounder.

However, drafting a QB in a later round doesn't avoid tension with Dak Prescott. Looking into QBs indicates the organization lost trust after winning two playoff games in seven seasons. 

It could also serve as leverage in contract negotiations. Prescott has one year remaining on his contract before an option activates, via Spotrac. If the Cowboys release him after Jun. 1, 2024, they will save $34M and incur an $18.1M cap hit, per Over the Cap.

Moving on from Prescott carries risk, though. Despite the critiques, he's a solid starting QB, tied for seventh in passer rating among active passers, and has a 61-36 starting record. 

Regardless, the links to QBs in the draft signal Dallas is considering a future without Prescott. The combine may reveal if the Cowboys are serious about moving on. Stroud and Hooker are participants in the combine.