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The Dallas Cowboys are getting ready for the season with voluntary team works at The Star, and will ramp up to rookie minicamps, virtual meetings, and then training camp in Oxnard, CA. During that time we will be going position by position and evaluate the roster to determine if the Cowboys are in a good place, or still have some work to do in order to upgrade the position via free agency.
First on the list is the most important position on the football team, quarterback. The Cowboys are in a lot better position than when they ended the season last year. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott has returned with a new contact and is working his way back from a serious season-ending injury. So in terms of the starter for the Cowboys, they are set, but the big question is what do they have behind Prescott. Prescott has said he could play in a game right now if the season began, so that isn’t an issue now.
Dak Prescott on his health: “I’m close. I can go play in a game right now and be very, very successful. So there is no doubt when I need to be successful, when I need to do the things that it takes to be on the field, I’ll do exactly that and the time will be right.” pic.twitter.com/Xh1f2bN6gE
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) May 4, 2021
The real question is what do the Cowboys have behind him?
We’ve seen two of the quarterbacks behind Prescott start in games last season, and while Garrett Gilbert did a pretty good job against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, the other, Ben DiNucci, looked like a deer in headlights in his one and only start against the Philadelphia Eagles. Then you have the longtime back up to Prescott in Cooper Rush who was brought back last season after the injury to now gone quarterback Andy Dalton. Rush has yet to start a game in the NFL so there’s no way to gauge what the Cowboys would be getting out of him if he were to take the field.
Between Gilbert and DiNucci, the Cowboy obviously needs an upgrade at the position and they currently seem to be doing their homework on quarterbacks just like they did when Dalton hit the open market after the draft last season. So far they’ve had quarterback Jeff Driskel in for a visit.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy wants more competition in team’s No. 2 QB battle. Jeff Driskel offers both experience, athleticism. One of nine career starts came vs. Cowboys in 2019. Passed for 209 yards, two TDs. Also ran for 51 yards, TD. https://t.co/D9hfmIrZ7g
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 7, 2021
The Cowboys did allow Driskel to leave the building without a contract but just bringing him in shows that they aren’t too comfortable with Gilbert, DiNucci, and Rush backing up Prescott.
They are also bringing in an UDFA rookie for a tryout.
The #Cowboys are bringing in former Illinois State QB Brady Davis for a tryout at this weekend's rookie minicamp, per his agents @iconsports360
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 11, 2021
Additionally, J.T. Barrett will also participate in a tryout at the rookie mini-camp.
Look for the Cowboys to search the waiver wire for teams who draft quarterbacks and are starting to cut their older ones. Players with starting experience or at least enough game time under their belt to make the Cowboys feel more comfortable if Prescott were to go down again.
If this team really wanted to upgrade the backup quarterback position then look for this team to add another veteran quarterback before training camp.