Here’s the Answer to the Cowboys Backup QB Woes
We take a look at how to fix the backup quarterback problem that has plagued the Dallas Cowboys recently.
The Dallas Cowboys had a very disappointing 2015, and backup quarterback play was a major reason for that. Starting quarterback Tony Romo went down twice with a broken collarbone, and while the team hopes he can stay healthy next season, they need to be prepared for the worst heading into 2016.
The answer to the backup quarterback question is not currently on the roster, with Matt Cassel hitting the open market and Kellen Moore being less than impressive in his playing time; solidifying the quarterback position needs to be a focus of this offseason.
Most teams carry one backup quarterback on their roster. The 2015 Cowboys went through three different backups, meaning they had to hunt down available quarterbacks to fill the position — quarterbacks who had no offseason work with the team, which hurts the offense in many ways. That is why the team needs to break the norm and carry two backups on the roster into 2016.
Step One: Sign Colt McCoy
The free agent market is very scarce at the quarterback position this year. The team can do a lot worse than Colt McCoy behind Romo. The team got an up close look at McCoy when he came to Dallas in 2014 and beat them in a prime time game. Should the Cowboys decide to look at the free agent market to find Romo’s backup, McCoy should be the first name on that list.
McCoy had a passer rating of 99.4 in his two seasons in Washington, and with the team committing a large total to Kirk Cousins, they will likely try to cheap out on the backup position, and that could open the door for the Cowboys to swoop in. McCoy is good enough to win a couple games should Romo go down, and an entire offseason to learn the offense would be a luxury that Cassel and Moore were not afforded.
McCoy is not a long-term answer at the backup position, and he is definitely not the answer at quarterback for life after Romo. That’s why he needs to be a stopgap, with the team looking to the draft to find the third quarterback on this year’s roster.
Step Two: Draft Dak Prescott
Many fans are clamoring for the team to draft the quarterback of the future, but none of the quarterbacks in this upcoming draft are sure things, and they are definitely not worth the fourth overall pick, so if the team decides to go the draft route, they need to look to the mid rounds.
Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott was arguably the most impressive collegiate quarterback over the past two seasons, posting 56 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, and that’s not counting his 24 rushing touchdowns in that span. He hasn’t been projected to be drafted in the top two rounds of the draft, which would make him a good value pick for the Cowboys.
Prescott is far from a finished prospect, but there’s talent there. His footwork needs an overhaul, and he’s very jittery in the pocket. But his arm is loaded with potential. He throws a beautiful deep ball, has the strength to make all the Sunday throws, and as bad as his footwork is inside the pocket, once he moves out of the tackle box he’s as dangerous as any quarterback you’ll find.
Prescott is not ready to step in if Romo goes down. But he has the potential to develop into the quarterback of the future the team needs, and worst case scenario he becomes a solid backup long-term. Some fans will never admit it, but the Cowboys have one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL, and they are more than capable of hammering out the dents in Prescott’s game.
Next: Eight Dallas Cowboys Full Seven Round Mock Drafts
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