Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do this offseason to get better results in 2026. One position they likely won’t do much with, though, is quarterback. With both Dak Prescott and Joe Milton III signed beyond next year and expected to return in the same roles, the only news at this spot may go no further than the practice squad.
Dak Prescott – After what many considered a resurgent year for Prescott, the 32-year-old has as strong a grip on the starting job as ever. Even if Dallas was waffling, his contract makes it a moot point until at least 2027. But an encouragingly strong year, in which Dak stayed healthy and played his way back into some MVP discussions, offers hope going forward. He’s always going to have his moments, but he was far from the reason that the Cowboys struggled last year. If anything, he was one of the few positives.
Joe Milton III – With two years left on his original rookie deal, which Dallas traded a fourth-round pick to acquire last spring, Milton isn’t going anywhere soon. He spent all of 2025 as the primary backup and could easily handle the same duties next year. At the very least, he’ll be back to compete in training camp against whoever else the Cowboys might add. Milton’s athletic gifts are undeniable, and this will be his first NFL offseason where he isn’t adjusting to a new offense.
Will Grier – The seventh-year veteran spent all of last season on Dallas’ practice squad and as an emergency option only. He’ll only be 31 after April, so there’s no reason to think he couldn’t return in the same capacity. He’s well-liked, especially by Prescott, and must bring enough to the QB room and practice field that Dallas brought him back in 2024 after a nearly two-year break. If Grier allows Dallas to get away with only keeping two QBs on the regular 53-man roster, and at practice squad cost, he may find more work here.
Well, that depends on how much they believe in Milton. A healthy season for Prescott could either be a sign of things to come or like a hot hand in Vegas. Rolling again with Milton as QB2, given Prescott’s history, means you’re running the big risk of him having to play meaningful snaps at some point in 2026. If you’re okay with that prospect, then cool. But if you believe in this team’s competitive chances next season, then do you want to leave your most important position to chance?
Granted, few teams keep competing without their starting QB. But what if it’s for just a few weeks, like when Prescott went down in 2022 and Cooper Rush went 4-1 as the starter? If you think Milton can win games in that scenario, then you probably do stick with him as the backup. It’s reasonable given that this will only be his third year...
