Stephen Jones shed some light on the Dallas Cowboys‘ plans for their quarterback room, including the future of former first round pick Trey Lance.
The team’s CEO and co-owner stated his belief on Monday that Lance, who was selected with the third-overall pick of the 2021 draft by the San Francisco 49ers and traded to Dallas for a 2024 fourth-round pick, will be wearing a different team’s jersey in 2025.
“We took a shot a Trey and wanted to do that,” Jones told The Dallas Morning News, regarding the Cowboys’ acquisition of Lance. “We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak (Prescott) signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.”
It seemed like Lance was never a fit in Dallas, especially after he barely saw the field when Dak Prescott’s season ended due to injury. The Cowboys rode with Cooper Rush, but he’s also headed to free agency this offseason, as well.
While Rush filled in admirably, and he’s been a solid backup for Prescott over the past couple of seasons, Jones does believe his play in 2024 might price the franchise out of the 31-year-old remaining with Dallas.
“You know how much we think of Cooper,” Jones added. “We just don’t know what he’s going to cost. When we’re paying Dak what we’re paying him, unfortunately we do have to go cheap there.”
So who will be Prescott’s backup in 2025? Well, Jones believes Dallas will take a shot on a young quarterback in the draft, and hope they can develop them into a solid backup, at the least.
“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones proclaimed. “I don’t know where that’s going to be.
“That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”
Even if the Cowboys plan to draft a quarterback, it would be risky for them to enter 2025 without a veteran backup on their roster. Even if it’s not Rush or Lance, they’re going to need someone, as you have to consider Prescott’s injury woes throughout his NFL career.
Regardless, Stephen Jones recognizes the Cowboys will need Dak Prescott healthy if they’re to return to form in 2025, but it should be obviously they can’t count on that wholeheartedly going into another season. The backup quarterback position is one of the more important holes the team needs to fill, and it’ll be fascinating to see what direction they go.
