The Dallas Cowboys extended Dak Prescott on the biggest contract in NFL history last offseason, but the team already finds itself in need of another quarterback.
Prescott is earning an annual average salary of $60 million over the next four years, so obviously the Cowboys aren't seeking a signal caller to start right away. But Prescott missed 11 games in 2020, five contests in 2022 and sat out nine times last season.
That's just one way of saying that whoever Dallas acquires to play the No. 2 role is going to have to be someone on whom the offense can truly rely, as Cooper Rush often was over his seven-year stint with the franchise.
With Rush on his way to play behind Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, many expect Dallas to seriously consider selecting a quarterback on Day 3 of the NFL draft next month, which means somewhere in Rounds 5-7. There should be a handful of viable options still available at that point, including the undersized but heady Dillon Gabriel of Oregon.
"It’s what’s between the ears that makes Gabriel a fine choice for Dallas. His pre-snap reads and awareness, along with quick reactions and processing make Gabriel one of the best in this department among all the prospects," Mike Poland of SB Nation wrote Monday, March 17. "The way he dissects defenses and throws with a very quick release, he almost compares to Tony Romo. Where he differs from Romo (apart from size) is his speed and mobility. He has some wheels to get out and go."
Will Grier is currently the only other player in the Cowboys' QB room outside of Prescott. He started two games last season, going 0-2 and throwing for a total of 228 yards and four interceptions.
