Dak Prescott (Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been quiet again in the early stages of the 2025 NFL offseason, but it’s imperative that he finds a competent backup quarterback for Dak Prescott before Week 1 rolls around.

Dak Prescott’s former well-respected and reliable backup, Cooper Rush, signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. Third-stringer Trey Lance is still a free agent, though it’s unlikely that Dallas will bring him back.

Prescott and Will Grier, who turns 30 next week, are the only quarterbacks on the Dallas depth chart right now. The latter hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since his 2019 rookie year with the Carolina Panthers.

Jess Haynie of SB Nation’s Blogging The Boys website looked at three veteran quarterbacks that the Cowboys could target as insurance policies behind Prescott. Haynie suggested that Dallas target former Atlanta Falcons 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder, who spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“With only three seasons under his belt, and all of them with teams not really poised to compete, Ridder may still have some untapped potential. It also might help him that new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was the Cardinals’ offensive line coach last year, so he at least has some firsthand exposure to Ridder’s work. Then again, if that works wasn’t good, maybe that would only close another NFL door.

Nevertheless, like Trey Lance, Ridder was once viewed as a premier QB prospect with strong athletic potential. He’ll only be 26 this August and has 18 career starts, going 8-10 overall. He offers an interesting mix of playing experience but also potential upside to mine.”

Incredibly, Ridder was the second quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. But he wasn’t taken until No. 74 overall, 54 spots after the Pittsburgh Steelers made Kenny Pickett the first signal-caller selected in the draft.

Prescott has missed time due to injury in four of the last five seasons, suffering season-ending ankle and hamstring injuries in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Jones must get a suitable backup quarterback, and a promising young talent like Ridder is worth the gamble.

Dak Prescott Begins $240 Million Deal In 2025

Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones (Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Before the Cowboys’ 2024 season opener against the Cleveland Browns, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $240 million. That extension will kick in this upcoming season, with his cap hit coming in at a whopping $52.974 million.

Prescott’s Cowboys finished a disappointing 7-10 in 2024, a year marred by injuries to key players. It’ll be interesting to see how the team rebounds under new head coach Brian Schottenhimer, whose promotion surprised many.