The NFL has gone approximately zero minutes without being unnecessarily dramatic. The Baltimore Ravens have thrown the offseason into chaos, pulling out of their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders that sent Maxx Crosby to Baltimore.
Conflicting reports have emerged about whether the Cowboys will circle back on Crosby after finishing as runner-ups to the Ravens. Could that be because Dallas was busy finishing off a free-agent signing as the news broke?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Cowboys have signed former Eagles and Commanders quarterback Sam Howell to a one-year deal.
No, this isn't fake. And yes, we're just as shocked as you.
Former Eagles QB Sam Howell has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly signed quarterback Sam Howell
The knee-jerk reaction to this move is that Dallas has given up on backup Joe Milton. That is not the case. The front office acquired Milton from the New England Patriots last offseason knowing he was raw and needed to be developed. That wasn't going to happen in one offseason.
What adding Howell does, though, is turn up the heat on Milton, and that's definitely a good thing. Brian Schottenheimer is a firm believer that competition brings out the best in players.
If Milton is made of the right stuff, he should thrive in the face of Howell competing with him in training camp and preseason. The last thing the Cowboys need is Milton getting complacent because he knows there's no one to threaten his status as QB2.
Howell is a low-risk addition who has familiarity with two of Dallas' division rivals. He was a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2022, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 228.6 yards per game and 22 touchdowns to 22 interceptions in 18 starts over two seasons.
Howell was traded to the Eagles last August and did not appear in a game, as he was the emergency third-string quarterback behind Jalen Hurts and backup Tanner McKee.
The Cowboys haven't had a quarterback controversy in exactly a decade. That streak will continue, but the QB2 battle between Milton and Howell has the makings of a barnburner.