Former 3rd Round Pick Named as Cowboys Cut Candidate

The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2025 campaign hoping for a cleaner bill of health, as they saw their 2024 season fall apart thanks in large part to their star quarterback Dak Prescott suffering a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9. The front office has done well to bring in an assortment of talented players this offseason, and the coaching staff will work on cutting that group down to 53 players once training camp rolls around.

One spot that could have an intriguing battle is the quarterback position. While Prescott is undoubtedly the starter, Joe Milton III and Will Grier are battling behind him for the backup job. With that in mind, it’s unlikely both of them will make the team’s initial roster, leading to one of these two passers being named a potential cut candidate ahead of training camp.

Will Grier Floated as Potential Cowboys Cut Candidate

Milton and Grier have both taken different paths to get to their current spot with the Cowboys. Milton was selected in the sixth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, and he shined during his only action as a rookie, playing in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills backups in what was a meaningless game for both sides. Milton completed 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 16 yards and another score.

After losing Cooper Rush in free agency to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys opted to swing a deal with the Patriots for Milton, sending a fifth-round pick to New England in exchange for the power-armed passer and a seventh-round pick. Considering the investment the team made in him, and his strong showing in the 2024 finale for the Patriots, that seemingly gives him the inside track to win the backup job.

Grier, on the other hand, was a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, but he’s never managed to find a consistent home in the league. This is his second stint with the Cowboys, as he spent time with them from 2021-2023, so he has familiarity with the team. However, given his lack of consistency, and the team’s investment in Milton, Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated recently listed him as a potential cut candidate.

“Grier might not be fighting with another quarterback, but he could still be on the chopping block if Dallas decides to go with two quarterbacks,” Gurzi wrote. “They’ll ideally want to keep him on the practice squad, but for that to happen, he first must be let go — which opens the door for another team to sign him away.”

Could Cowboys Cut Will Grier?

As Gurzi noted, the ideal scenario for the Cowboys would see them cut Grier and stash him on their practice squad as an insurance policy behind Prescott and Milton. While he has experience, he’s not exactly a hot commodity, so Dallas should have a decent shot at being able to sneak him onto their practice squad should they release him.

Of course, these things are subject to change at any time, as Grier could star during training camp, Milton could struggle, or someone could get injured. Anything can happen, but at the end of the day, it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise if Grier gets released before the start of the 2025 campaign.