With Dak Prescott on the books for the foreseeable future, the top of the Cowboys’ quarterback depth chart is set. Dallas may well have a new backup in place for 2025, though. 
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Trey Lance is a pending free agent with his rookie contract set to expire. The former No. 3 pick’s brief time with the 49ers ended via trade in 2023, with the Cowboys acquiring him for a fourth-round selection. Lance did not not see any playing time during his first Dallas campaign, though, and this past season he made only one start despite Dak Prescott‘s missed time.
“We took a shot a Trey and wanted to do that,” COO Stephen Jones said on Monday (via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News). “We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.”
Indeed, it would come as no surprise if Lance were to head elsewhere on the open market. The 24-year-old is unlikely to draw much in the way of free agent interest having only made 12 regular season appearances and five starts to date, but a team could allow him the opportunity to compete for a backup gig in the summer. The QB2 role has belonged to Cooper Rush for much of his Cowboys tenure, but he too is set to see his contract expire in March.
Jones spoke positively about Rush, 31, when asked about his situation. The former UDFA has made 13 starts across the 2022 and ’24 campaigns when Prescott has been sidelined through injury. Rush’s last contract (two years, $5MM) was the most lucrative one of his career, but Jones noted he could receive a raise by means of a free agent departure. Especially if that takes place, the Cowboys can be expected to draft Prescott’s next backup (something Moore notes new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko support).
“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said. “I don’t know where that’s going to be. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”
The Cowboys are currently projected to have 10 picks in April’s draft, including four in a stretch from Nos. 150-174. That range could give the team the opportunity to add an inexpensive backup while Dallas manages the cap implications of Prescott’s historic 2024 extension.
Jerry is such a jerk that he started Trey in the last game so he wouldn’t have to pay his 2nd string around $500k QB bonus for starts last year. Look it up.
Sounds like a good business decision to me.
I can see them taking a developmental QB like Ewers who Im sure they saw plenty of in their home state
Possibly spend a 3rd rounder on Ewers or a 4th/5th on Kyle McCord
Honestly, Cowboys should trade back from 12 and get as many draft picks as they can to supplement the roster.
They can always target someone like RB Hampton UNC in the 2nd or Henderson OSU, JudkinsOSU, Skattebo ASU, Smith SMU in the 3rd instead of Jeanty
I would not be surprised to see the Giants grab McCord first. They love Syracuse QBs (Ryan Nassib, Tommy Devito, Eric Dungey).
Jeanty has cowboys written all over him. Lol. Maybe titans. He’ll go fast. Possibly trade up.
biggest bust ever
Never heard of Jamarcus Russell?
It screams “I just started watching football 4 years ago.”
Trey Lance was never an NFL Quarterback but it really doesn’t matter…as long as they are stuck with Dak Prescott they aren’t going to win anything anyway.
Is Lance that bad? He was penciled in as the starter for Shanahan in SF. Never played in DAL. If Justin Fields can play for years and show he isn’t an NFL starter, why not Lance?
Lance and Fields have way more upside than tons of other QBs. Cooper Rush being one of them. Really comes down to the system. Both QBs could probably thrive under a good offensive game-planner like Reid or John Harbaugh. We’ll never know, and that isn’t entirely either player’s fault.
*this is what they SHOULD do. I’m well aware Jerry would never participate in anything that cogent. Cowboys will stay mediocre to bad, Jerry will stay rich, fans will stay frustrated.
Remember when cowboys fans said Cooper Rush was the future 2years ago. lol
Honestly, Cowboys fans can say some ridiculous things, but I don’t think anyone was saying that.
Yeah… I don’t think I heard ANY Cowboys fan say that…
Honestly qb3 here on a 1 million competition with Jaxson dart (in 3rd)and a veteran is not a bad combo. Eventually this guy will mature. If he doesn’t hurry. It will be at the car dealership rather than the nfl. lol. He could be salvaged if he didn’t come into the league thing he was Chris brown and Tony Montana
Someone will take up Trey I think. Could sit behind Stroud in Houston and get good GOOD coaching there. I could also see him learning with the Dolphins or the Ravens