The Landry Hat
Fansided

Ranking the Cowboys backup quarterback options from worst to best

By Jerry Trotta

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Baker Mayfield #17 of the Los Angeles looks on during the second half of the game against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Baker Mayfield #17 of the Los Angeles looks on during the second half of the game against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 01: Andy Dalton #14 of the New Orleans Saints passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on January 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 01: Andy Dalton #14 of the New Orleans Saints passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on January 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

2. Andy Dalton

Cowboys fans are very familiar with Andy Dalton’s work. More importantly, so is Mike McCarthy after Dalton stepped in and played 11 games (nine starts) during the 2020 season after Dak Prescott’s devastating ankle injury.

Dalton went 4-5 in his nine starts and was everything you would expect from a backup: largely competent, but nothing that moved the needle. He completed 64.9% of his passes for 2,170 yards (197.3 per game) and 14 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

Not great numbers given the talent he had surrounding him, but everything fell apart for the Cowboys that season.

Tyron Smith played just two games, La’el Collins missed the entire year, Travis Frederick retired that offseason, Chidobe Awuzie missed two months, Leighton Vander Esch missed seven games, and even Zack Martin was shelved for six contests.

In 2022, Dalton started 14 games for the Saints in place of the injured Jameis Winston. Dalton kept the job after Winston got healthy, and finished the year with 2,871 yards, and 18 touchdowns to nine picks.

The Cowboys could do a lot worse than the Red Rifle.

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