Most of the talk about Cowboys quarterbacks this offseason has understandably revolved around Dak Prescott, his new contract, and his comeback from a devastating ankle injury. But flying a bit under the radar is the team’s unsettled backup QB situation. Last year the team had an established veteran backup in Andy Dalton, who ended up becoming the starter when Prescott went down. Dalton is off in Chicago now, leaving Dallas with very little on the depth chart. The team currently has only Garrett Gilbert, Cooper Rush, and Ben DiNucci behind Prescott.
Rush has thrown three career passes, and DiNucci (a 2020 seventh-rounder) and Gilbert have each made one start. That’s led to some speculation the Cowboys could add a veteran backup. Barring a bigger name veteran addition, Gilbert is currently the “favorite” to backup Prescott in 2021, Rob Phillips of the team’s official site writes. Phillips frames it as a battle between Gilbert and Rush without even mentioning DiNucci, who was disastrous in his lone 2020 start in primetime against the Eagles. Gilbert almost led Dallas to an upset victory over the Steelers in his one start last year, and was a star in the ill-fated AAF.
Here’s more from around the NFC as we kickoff the new week and continue to await training camps:
- Elsewhere in the NFC East, it sounds like the Giants are scheming up various ways to get Kadarius Toney involved as a rookie. New York has Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton already at receiver, so it might be hard for the 20th overall pick of this past draft to get heavy targets right away. That doesn’t mean Toney won’t get touches. The Giants are “motivated to get the ball in his hands, whether it’s out of the backfield, on jet sweeps, screen passes or maybe in the Wildcat formation,” Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. Raanan writes they want him to be a year-one factor, and that “they believe the best way to make that happen is to tap into his versatility.” In other words, use him as a gadget player. The Florida product should be fun to watch.
- Heading down to the NFC South, Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown may have just had his probation terminated early to close his previous criminal case, but he still has civil case headaches to deal with. In addition to a lawsuit from a truck driver alleging assault that came in mid-May, Brown was apparently hit with another lawsuit later that month. This time, it’s from a sports marketing company alleging that Brown didn’t pay them commission on $2MM in earnings they got him, Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The company, KCB Marketing, is seeking over $100K in damages.
I get that the Cowboys like DiNucci, but they like Rush too. Retaining a “developmental” QB is quite normal, but three on a roster is just not doable, especially with a starter coming off a massive injury.
Gilbert was very high on NFL radars as a developmental type when he came out a few years ago, and has been bouncing around and earning that coaching style praise that prospects get from staff before playing very well in the AAFL. He’s not old yet, but is getting to the point where his experience has led to him actually needing the chance to see the field to prove himself instead of just being coached. Rush and DiNucci are less potentially viable prospects right now, and it would be just silly to keep all of them on the roster, or even three of them. The Cowboys won’t get much more right now out of Rush or DiNucci than they would out of Gilbert, and Gilbert’s AAFL experience and his NFL curiosity seem to make him the much better choice. I’d expect Rush to stick around with Gilbert, and DiNucci to maybe be stashed on the practice squad.
Rush and Dinucci are trash, and Gilbert is at best a third string QB. It’s Dak or bust.
I would agree. I think they keep Rush because they like him, but I would really just retain one of the three if it were me. Gilbert would be my pick.
I agree with you whole heartedly AK185. I wish we could find a better back up QB.
Yeah, if Dak weren’t coming off a bad injury, Dallas maybe could make an argument for having a less proven backup. I think Gilbert might be good given the chance, and now is his time to shine, but if I’m Dallas just the chance that he might not be ready is enough for me to find somebody more experienced. Can’t gamble with the situation they have, even if the receivers at least will help out the new QB.
If Dak isn’t ready and with that much money in his contract, 2021 is a wasted year anyway. May as well aim for a high draft pick. Maybe Gilbert or Rush can play. DiNucci didn’t look like much.
Gilbert will be the back-up if they for whatever reason don’t sign a legit veteran back-up.
Sign a aging vet with starting experience as back-up, keep Gilbert and dump Rush and Dinucci
I bet nick foles winds up as Dallas’ backup qb
Doubt it. He was really bad last year.
Stick with Gilbert. The chances of a Nick Foles or Jeff Hostetler type taking a team to the promised land is slim. Nick Foles is no longer Nick Foles.
As a Giants fan, I’m not so sure they’re loaded at WR. I like that they addressed the position in the offseason, but there’s a decent chance it could all go wrong. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but Golladay has an extensive injury history and is a bit overrated. Shepherd has a history of injuries as well. Slayton seems just average to me and Toney is a rookie.
I may be wrong and maybe they’ll excel, but I could see this unit not living up to the hype some fans are putting out there.
I think you’re right, but I will give the G-men credit for making an attempt this year to get who they could. I would feel better if I were a New York fan if the Giants could have gotten a reliable possession receiver to complement the speedster Toney and the vertical option in Golladay. Considering the fact that most of New York’s options will completely new to the team and playing for a second year coordinator in Garrett, the possibility exists that they could underachieve or overachieve very easily. We have nothing to suggest to us which will happen with this group.
There’s a chance to pick up a high quality veteran possession receiver at the tail end of his career at final cuts this year. Cut for a $6 million cap space savings by old team, resigned by Giants for $2 million and incentives.
If Dak goes down early again, Dallas will compete for the 1st pick. Take that to the bank.
Don’t sleep on getting Saquon back.
In addition to all the WR improvements, we got a boosted TE compliment and another year experience on the OL.
DJ has had more time with Jason Garrett and I’d say all things are pointing UP.
Haven’t been this optimistic since the day before Plax shot himself in the leg.