The Dallas Cowboys face several critical decisions in the upcoming offseason, including their approach to the quarterback position.
Dallas held off as long as possible but eventually agreed to extend quarterback Dak Prescott with a four-year, $240 million deal ($60 million annually) just hours before their Week 1 game, securing him through the 2028 season.
However, during the second half of the Cowboys’ Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Prescott suffered a torn hamstring that required surgery and ended his season.
Backup Cooper Rush stepped in as the starter, leading Dallas to a 3-3 record in the six games since, completing nearly 60% of his passes for 1,405 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions, according to Pro Football Reference.
Rush is 8-4 as a starter in his seven-year NFL career and will become an unrestricted free agent in March after his two-year, $5 million contract with the Cowboys expires.
It’s clear that Dallas needs a reliable option behind Prescott, who should be ready for the 2025 season. However, quarterback Trey Lance – also set to hit free agency in March unless extended – has struggled in every opportunity with the Cowboys, both in preseason and regular season games.
This makes Rush a top priority, though financial concerns could complicate things for Dallas, especially with expensive contracts for Prescott and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb signed over the summer and potential negotiations for edge rusher Micah Parsons in the near future. Additionally, other teams may be willing to offer a substantial contract for a solid QB like Rush.
One such team could be the Minnesota Vikings, particularly if they can’t afford to retain Sam Darnold next season.
“If the team decides to let Darnold go and make room for [J.J.] McCarthy, signing Rush as a backup in free agency would be a wise move,” Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department noted on Dec. 16. “It would provide the young quarterback with a valuable mentor, and the 31-year-old has ample starting experience to step in when needed.”
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