Cowboys could address quarterback after the draft

We discuss the possibility that the Dallas Cowboys could choose to address their depth at quarterback after the NFL Draft this week.

Many believe the Dallas Cowboys will address their depth at quarterback in this week’s NFL Draft. That’s even though the two top prospects at the position, California’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, are expected to be long gone by the time the Cowboys number is called fourth overall in Thursday’s first round.

Still, there are a plethora of quarterback prospects for the Cowboys to choose from in later rounds. And Dallas is prepared for several different draft scenarios as they have evaluated many of the quarterback prospects in this class through private visits and workouts all offseason.

But the truth is, the draft sometimes has a funny way of falling. And it’s a legitimate concern that the Cowboys preferred choices at quarterback could be off-the-board when it’s Dallas time to pick. So what would the Cowboys do then? It appears Dallas has a back-up plan in place for that scenario too.

"“There’s usually opportunities in players, and what’s going to happen in this draft,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Some people will, and it could be us being one of those guys, taking a quarterback that maybe loosens up another quarterback somewhere else…I do think there are other options out there that we can add depth to where we are, as to where we sit today.”"

When a new quarterback is added to a roster, it usually means one has to leave. Jones and the Cowboys would be betting on that fact if they failed to land a rookie gunslinger. Already, veteran quarterbacks like Philadelphia’s Sam Bradford, Los Angeles’ Nick Foles and Tampa Bay’s Mike Glennon are rumored to be on the trading block for their respective teams and the draft hasn’t even begun.

Then there are still legitimate veteran back-ups quarterback available in free agency. Names like Brian Hoyer and Ryan Fitzpatrick. So the Cowboys already have options. But Dallas may decide to cash in one of these veterans even if they draft a young rookie quarterback this week.

"“I wonder if the Cowboys will revisit the veteran backup quarterback after the draft,” wrote ESPN staff writer Todd Archer on Sunday. “They keep mentioning the possibility even if they draft a quarterback. According to Jerry Jones, a player’s value is never lower than during the draft because teams like picks so much. Names like Josh McCown and Brian Hoyer have been mentioned before. What about Nick Foles of the Los Angeles Rams? The Cowboys were fairly high on him entering the draft.”"

Foles would certainly make sense in Dallas as he’s a familiar foe. A third round pick out of Arizona in 2012, the former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback is well known among this Cowboys coaching staff having faced him several times as NFC East rivals.

Before spending last season in St. Louis, Foles was in Philly for three years. His best season was in 2013 when he received his first and only Pro Bowl bid after throwing for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and an amazing two interceptions. Many attribute those gaudy numbers to Foles being in then-head coach Chip Kelly’s uptempo offensive scheme.

But Foles is only 27-years old, and should have plenty left in the tank. Sitting behind Romo in Dallas would likely only help his dropping career-trajectory. And the four-year veteran’s contract situation is fairly attractive as well.

According to Pro Football Talk, Foles is scheduled to make a base salary of $1.75 million this season (with a possible $4.5 million in incentives). Next season, he’s scheduled to make a whopping $10.75 million. But luckily, it’s a voidable year.

Rotoworld.com believes the Rams would be lucky to get a late-round pick for Foles at this point. The Cowboys have two fourth round picks and four sixth round selections in this draft. Unfortunately, four of those picks (one fourth, three sixths) are compensatory selections and thus, untradeable. Still, if Dallas was interested in trading for Foles, they likely have the ammunition to do so.

Next: Dallas Cowboys 2016 Draft: Nine Full Mock Drafts

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