Dallas Cowboys potentially looking for a veteran quarterback

After a very defensive heavy draft haul, the Dallas Cowboys could potentially be in the market for a veteran quarterback.

This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys clearly had one thing in mind: Improving their defense. After losing several starters on that side of the ball to free agency, it was a no-brainer.

In free agency, the Cowboys signed veteran cornerback Nolan Carroll and safety Robert Blanton. Then Dallas turned around and used seven of their nine picks in the 2017 NFL Draft to select defensive players.

In fact, their first three draft selections were used on Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton, Colorado defensive back Chidobe Awuzie and Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis respectively.

Throw in the returns of 2016 draft selections linebacker Jaylon Smith and defensive end Charles Tapper from injury, and this Dallas defense is suddenly overflowing with young talent.

Offensively, the Cowboys haven’t had to do much. Their offensive line lost two key members. Starting right tackle Doug Free up and retired this offseason. And former starting left guard Ronald Leary found a big day with the Denver Broncos in free agency.

Luckily for Dallas, they have young lineman in La’el Collins and Chaz Green waiting in the wings. Both could potentially fill the void left by Free at right tackle. The Cowboys also signed veteran Byron Bell to compete for the position.

If Collins, who was the Cowboys starting left guard before being placed on Injured Reserved due to a toe injury early last season, is moved to tackle, former 2013 first round selection Jonathan Cooper is the likely candidate to take his place on the interior of the line.

Outside of the O-line, the only other area on offense that the Cowboys addressed is at wide receiver, adding a talented pair of prospects in North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer and Ohio State’s Noah Brown during the draft.

But that could change soon as DallasCowboys.com football analyst Bryan Broaddus believes executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones is potentially looking for a veteran quarterback to add to the roster.

The Cowboys clearly have their franchise quarterback in place in Dak Prescott. The 23-year old took the NFL by storm last season, leading Dallas to a 13-3 season ending record, a first round bye in the playoffs and winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Behind Prescott on the depth chart is veteran Kellen Moore. A favorite of Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, the legendary Boise State quarterback spent his first three seasons with the Detroit Lions never taking a single regular season snap. Moore landed in Dallas in 2015 and the broken ankle that forced him to IR last year opened the door for Prescott to blossom.

Despite Moore’s presence, the Cowboys seem open to the possibility of adding a veteran at the position. And the biggest name currently in free agency is quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, you can scratch his name off any potential add list.

Archer was told by an unnamed source that Kaepernick was simply not a fit in Dallas. Which is strange as the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has a very similar play-style to Prescott. The reason Kaepernick may not be seen as a good fit in Dallas is due to the fact he opted to take a knee during the national anthem last season as a form of protest. And having him playing for America’s Team could be a potential public relations nightmare.

Other free agent quarterbacks like Zach Mettenberger, Austin Davis, Aaron Murray, Thaddeus Lewis and Robert Griffin III were also mentioned by Archer as potential targets for the Cowboys. But none of them are more talented than Kaepernick, who lead the Niners to the Super Bowl in 2012.

Next: Seven Dallas Cowboys who could be traded or released

If the Dallas Cowboys were willing to sign controversial defensive end Greg Hardy back in 2015, after he was accused of domestic violence, it isn’t a big leap to think they could easily do the same for a player like Colin Kaepernick. But apparently, that door is currently closed.