FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have not hidden the fact that they were on the hunt for a backup quarterback. Perfectly clear evidence found in a simple look at the depth chart or the words from team leadership would point to that truth.
Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones touched on the matter over the weekend at the NFL's annual meetings.
"Yes, still an option that we're looking at," he said. "We can do it via trade, what can do it via what's available out there… trade is one of them and certainly signing available guys are one of them."
Fans finally got their answer Thursday when the Dallas Cowboys traded for New England Patriots reserve quarterback Joe Milton III. The intriguing young play caller was in need of a change of scenery after the room in New England got too crowded and finds his home at The Star.
While it may seem perfectly clear what role Milton will be asked to fill in Dallas, absent-minded Cowboys critics are using the move to stir an agenda against Prescott.
Thursday, notorious Cowboy critic LeSean McCoy went on FS1's "The Facility," proclaiming Dallas' starter faces down a new threat while providing some unsolicited real estate advice.
"If Dak has a postseason like he's always had... find a realtor, because Joe Milton can got talent and can play," he warned in his reaction to the trade.
Simply ignoring the intent of this move, Milton has enough intrigue around his limited NFL action to draw out such dribble from talking heads like McCoy. To Milton's credit, his performance last season against the Buffalo Bills remains impressive for a rookie going against an elite team.
However, the fallout of this move speaks more about the Cowboys than it does Prescott. Now are there at least minimal concerns about Prescott returning to form after his hamstring injury? Sure.
But the Cowboys needed a quarterback behind Prescott regardless with Cooper Rush gone and Trey Lance perhaps done in Frisco as well. Dallas evaluated their market, did not settle for a lackluster option nor overpay for a reach. In other circumstances, the Cowboys have been guilty of both.
Rather, the Cowboys take a low risk on a player with high upside, solving one of their roster questions to free up their plan of attack in the latter stages of the NFL Draft. Nothing about this move questions the legitimacy of Prescott as the starter.
More will likely join the chorus speculating Prescott's future with this trade now official. Unfortunately for that contingent, as it stands now, Prescott is not going anywhere.
Related: Cowboys Ex Deion Preaches 'Old-Time Religion' Amid Giants Draft Rumors
Related: Cowboys' Jerry Jones Steals 'All-Upside' Quarterback in Trade
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM.