FRISCO, Texas - Football season is getting closer and closer.
The Cowboys are set to depart for training camp in less a month. That's when we'll get the first up-close look at Brian Schottenheimer's first season with this revised roster and coaching staff. When we get to Oxnard, that's when we'll start to get some real answers about this 2025 Cowboys team.
But what are the questions? We've compiled our annual list of pressing questions that need answers heading into the regular season. The staff writers, consisting of Patrik Walker, Tommy Yarrish, Nick Eatman, Mickey Spagnola, Kyle Youmans and Kurt Daniels, weigh in on some of the pressing issues.
Today, we'll continue the series with a look into the backup quarterback position, which saw a change when Cooper Rush and Trey Lance left in free agency. Now, let's see what is behind Dak Prescott here in 2025.
13) What do you expect from the backup QB spot?
Tommy: Is it bad to say not a lot? It's hard for me to place high expectations when the backup quarterbacks on the roster have played in a combined three regular season games with just 148 snaps of offense between the two of them. That doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence, but that doesn't mean that Joe Milton and/or Will Grier can't help the Cowboys win games. I think Milton gives you a better shot than Grier does, but he's still got a lot of growing to do from a processing standpoint and putting all the pieces of being an NFL quarterback together. The upside is there, and that's why the Cowboys made a trade for him, with the hopes that they can focus on developing him with Dak Prescott being healthy and starting this season.
Mickey: I would expect the Cowboys will give Joe Milton and Will Grier an extensive look during training camp, and especially in at least two of the three preseason games, if not all three, since can't imagine they will expose Dak Prescott to much if any unnecessary contact. As for what we might expect from these inexperienced quarterbacks, that is hard to say and even think hanging their hats on an inexperienced backup might also be a stretch. Expect the Cowboys to keep the digits of several veteran free agent quarterbacks handy to possibly take a look at during camp just in case Milton and/or Grier don't prove ready to handle this very important task they absolutely can't leave to chance. There are guys out there with starting experience whose prices will come down when they look up unemployed like the first of August.
Patrik: All I expect is that it'll be more interesting than it's been since Dak Prescott was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart behind Tony Romo, Kellen Moore and Jameill Showers. That takeover was a sight to behold, but it's been the Cooper Rush show at QB2 ever since and there hasn't really been a competition in nearly a decade at that post, despite trading for Trey Lance. Things get fun again in the battle for QB2 in 2025, though, and Milton is a big, young and mobile QB with a cannon of an arm, but Will Grier is the savvy veteran who exploded in a preseason matchup to the tune of 358 yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns to zero interceptions with a 122.0 passer rating after completing 29 of his 35 attempts. Grier was brought back late last season for at least one more full go at camp, Cooper Rush departed in free agency, and Milton wants to prove himself. Sign me up for the Milton vs. Grier clash. I'm one who hasn't already awarded the role to Milton, and I believe he'll have to earn it.
Kurt: I expect the backup, or backups, to rest comfortably on the sideline. If the Cowboys truly want to have success this season, they need Dak Prescott behind center for every snap except perhaps during fourth-quarter mop-up duty. But as far as who will be holding the clipboard, I suspect it will be Joe Milton. He's got all the measurable you'd want in a quarterback, including a cannon for an arm, and he looked good both in his one start with the Patriots last season and in the recent OTA and minicamp workouts. The Cowboys acquired him as a developmental quarterback of sorts, and he's in a great position where he can do just that without the pressure of actual game action. At least that's the hope, right?
