One of the obvious truths of the modern era of the NFL is one the Dallas Cowboys know well: You’d better have a top-shelf starter at quarterback. That’s Dak Prescott. But one of the lesser truths that many teams have learned the hard way is that you’d also better have a very trustworthy QB2. Is that Joe Milton?
Teams like the Commanders, Bengals and Colts learned that lesson the hard way in 2025. A team like the 49ers, though, showed what having a Mac Jones behind Brock Purdy can do for a team. For a long time, the Cowboys had a certain level of faith in Cooper Rush behind Prescott–he was 4-0 in his first starts in Dallas. But Rush faltered in 2024 in place of Prescott, after the QB1 went down with a hamstring injury, going 4-4 in his place.
Now, the question is, has Milton earned that same level of trust Rush once had?
Joe Milton Is the Current Cowboys QB2
Milton, of course, was raw when he came out of Tennessee two years ago and slipped to the sixth round, where the Patriots took him. The Cowboys brought in him by trade last offseason, and there’s no doubt he is still raw. His numbers in four appearances for Dallas: 15-for-24 passing, 183 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown.
But the Cowboys apparently plan to keep him on as the primary backup. As Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com wrote: “Joe Milton is the only other quarterback on the roster, as Will Grier was not signed to a reserve/futures deal. … For now, Milton will remain Prescott’s backup, and it appears to be trending that way for a second season.”
GettyWill Grier #15 of the Dallas Cowboys
Arm Strength, Lack of Polish Still on Joe Milton Scouting Report
As Yarrish points out, the reviews on Milton have not changed much since college. He has great arm talent but does not possess enough of a grasp of all the intricacies of running an offense that a QB needs to truly be a starter in the NFL. Milton has a supremely strong arm–that raw ability is the reason he is in the league–but he needs polish.
The Cowboys, as things stand, apparently have some faith that Milton will continue to improve as a quarterback and not just a thrower. They can afford to do that in January. But as the offseason wears on, there’s some question about whether the Cowboys could push Milton back and bring in a more plug-and-play backup for Prescott, who will be 33 this season.
Are There Quality Backups for the Cowboys Out There?
A decision like that might require three QBs on the roster, which teams don’t generally like to do (but which the Cowboys did while holding out hope for Trey Lance). Or it could mean bringing Grier back as a practice-squadder, with the possibility he could leapfrog Milton.
It would also mean a quality backup hitting the market, which is no guarantee. Do Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor or Joe Flacco count as “quality”?
Yarrish wrote: “Should Grier not return, it would be interesting to see who the Cowboys would pursue in the free agency market. They would likely look for a veteran at the position, but would they be required to carry three QBs on the active roster or could they find someone willing to be on the practice squad?”
The Cowboys, then, might be trending toward Joe Milton. But it’s not Milton-or-bust, yet.
Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Cowboys ‘Trending’ Toward Key Decision at Quarterback appeared first on Heavy Sports.
