The Dallas Cowboys have a backup quarterback problem. And the truth is, so do most teams in the NFL. There are only a handful of franchises that have a quality backup (49ers, Bengals, Bears), and they have invested significant resources into that position.
The Cowboys have invested picks into their backup quarterback job, trading for players like Trey Lance and Joe Milton III. But they do not have a quarterback on their roster who can adequately replace Dak Prescott, even for just a few drives.
That is a big problem as we inch closer to training camp practices, as Prescott hasn’t been the most durable quarterback over the last five years. And unlike when Cooper Rush played in 2021 and 2022, the Cowboys no longer have the defense to support and raise up a backup quarterback.
Joe Milton will be playing for his Cowboys job during training camp
The expectation going into camp is that Joe Milton, who was the primary backup to Prescott last year, will get the first crack at earning the QB2 job. However, he will have some competition this year as the Cowboys signed Sam Howell to a one-year deal earlier this offseason.
Todd Archer of ESPN put out his latest roster prediction for the Cowboys before they head off for camp, and one of his most notable “cuts” was Milton. Archer kept only two quarterbacks on the active roster, with Howell earning the QB2 job. Here is a snippet as to why he believes Milton could be on the outside looking in this year:
"Considered going with Joe Milton III and making it three but opted against it. The Cowboys guaranteed Howell $2 million in free agency and don't make it a habit of letting that financial commitment walk. Milton is still young enough to see how he develops and could be a practice squad guy. Howell has more experience and command."
The Cowboys gave Milton nearly every single rep during the preseason last year, and it wasn’t pretty. He completed just 55.4% of his passes and averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt. Worse yet, it was hard to even evaluate the rest of the offense because of how inaccurate Milton was during the games.
There were several drives that he led where the Cowboys didn’t have a single successful play. And while we shouldn’t overreact to a few preseason struggles, the issues were also present during the training camp practices.
The Cowboys want Milton to win this job, as he has the size, arm strength, and athleticism to be a good quarterback in the NFL. But unless he improves his accuracy and consistency, there might not be a spot on the active roster for him this season.
Dallas needs to find a reliable backup to Prescott, especially given his injury history. And with their margin of error likely being very small in terms of making the playoffs, they might be in the backup quarterback market if Milton and/or Howell don’t break out during camp.
Expect Milton to get a ton of work again in the preseason this year. But he'll need to be leaps and bounds better if he wants to earn a roster spot in 2026. Time is running out for Milton and this coaching staff.
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