FRISCO — Suddenly the quarterback position is a hot topic when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys. No, there is not a controversy about the starting job that franchise centerpiece Dak Prescott maintains.
Rather, the conversation centers around the play callers behind him or in a worst case scenario, an insurance policy if injury befalls him.
The Cowboys essentially cleaned house behind Prescott. Cooper Rush left for the Baltimore Ravens and they have reached the end of the road on the Trey Lance experiment. Will Grier is the lone quarterback on the roster, but the team has a plan of attack to generate some competition down the depth chart.
“Yes, still an option that we’re looking at,” Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones told the team website. “We can do it via trade, what can do it via what’s available out there… trade is one of them and certainly signing available guys are one of them.
“I think we look at the full package, you’re probably not going to get all things just right or exactly what you want, but at the same time you want to get the very best guy that we think gives us the best chance to go out and compete with [Will] Grier and be good in that room with Dak and Grier and whoever else we add.”
Now there is certainly a belief that the team will attack this need through the draft with a late-round selection. But ESPN has floated around murmurings that the Cowboys could have interest in New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III.
“One team to potentially watch is the Dallas Cowboys because they are looking for a good backup,” Fowler said during a recent appearance on NFL Live. “A young backup with upside they may not get in the draft, maybe they get in a trade.”
The asking price of a third-round pick may sour Dallas’ interest here, assuming there is any such conversation to begin with. But if the Cowboys are set on solidifying this area of the roster as Jones describes, Milton may be the most fascinating option.
More than just upside, Milton is something of a happy medium between two extremes. He is a young quarterback that has seen some action on an NFL field already without treaded tires of a veteran player.
Milton is more than just a quick-fix backup though. Some around the league believe he could develop into a starter down the line.
From the Cowboys’ perspective, that may be looking a little too far ahead. Combined with the rumored price, the reality of them getting Milton may be closer to a pipe dream more than anything.
However, it’s hard to deny the qualities that Milton would bring to this quarterbacks group.