The Cowboys may have their 2026 starter set with Dak Prescott, but the backup job is still very much up for grabs.
Dallas has Joe Milton on the roster, yet the team’s decision to bring in Sam Howell earlier this offseason says plenty about how secure that spot really is. Milton and Howell have been splitting reps this spring, and the competition for QB2 is expected to sort itself out once training camp opens in late July.
That uncertainty is what makes one outside idea worth mentioning, even if it doesn’t make much sense for Dallas. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon floated Anthony Richardson as a possible fit if the Colts decide to move on from the former first-round pick.
“Potential landing spots include the Cardinals - especially if Jacoby Brissett's contract dispute boils over - the Jets, once they realize Geno Smith is not the guy, or the Steelers, Cowboys, or Panthers as a premium stash-away option for 2027,” he said.
Richardson’s time in Indianapolis has been headed this way for a while. He was taken No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the early returns have been rough. When he has been on the field, he hasn’t been effective, and injuries have been a constant problem.
He lost the starting job to Daniel Jones in 2025, then missed his chance to get back into the mix after Jones suffered an Achilles tear because a freak eye injury ended Richardson’s season. That opened the door for Riley Leonard, who is now expected to back up Jones in 2026.
The Colts gave Richardson permission to look for a trade earlier this offseason, but nothing has come together yet. The market has been quiet, likely because his value has dropped so far and because some around the league believe Indianapolis may simply release him.
For Dallas, that’s where the logic breaks down. Richardson is still a project after four NFL seasons, and the Cowboys need something steadier behind Prescott with the team in win-now mode. He doesn’t fit the description of a reliable QB2.
Even giving up a late-Day 3 pick would be too much for a player whose stock has cratered this badly.
The only scenario that makes real sense for the Cowboys is if Richardson is cut and can be added to the practice squad as a long-term flier. That would let Dallas develop him without using an extra roster spot.
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One analyst has floated a veteran name as a possible fit, and the idea comes with plenty of baggage. The corner in question was released by Washington earlier this offseason and is trying to work back from a torn ACL, with availability and performance both in question after he has not topped 10 games in a season since 2021. For Dallas, it is the kind of move that would make sense on paper if the team wants insurance, but it would also force a hard look at whether the upside is still worth the risk. [Read more 🡒]