The Cowboys Should Consider Jacoby Brissett

By Dink Kearney | Jan 21, 2016

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) and North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett (12). Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Cowboys should consider drafting North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has the size and the arm strength to be an NFL quarterback.

The Dallas Cowboys sit with a top-5 draft selection in April’s draft. The Cowboys have several options when it comes to this pick. Dallas could draft anything from a quarterback to a defensive lineman, or anything in between. Most of Cowboys Nation wants America’s Team to draft a quarterback.

Starting quarterback Tony Romo will be 36 next season and has acquired the deadly label of being injury prone. Suffering your third broken clavicle (two last season) and having a surgically repaired back will give any athlete that label.

Of course, the Cowboys’ brass are mum on which direction they’ll go with their top pick. When it comes to the Cowboys current backup quarterback situation, everyone knows how much owner and general manager Jerry Jones loves Cleveland Browns controversial quarterback Johnny Manziel.

During the 2014 draft, Jones had to be talked out of drafting Manziel at the last minute. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they made the right decision and drafted offensive lineman Zack Martin, a Pro Bowl-player in both of his two NFL seasons so far.

There are rumors the Cowboys are looking at Washington Redskins third-string quarterback Robert Griffin III as a potential backup to Romo. Griffin will either be traded or released, depending on how desperate teams are Griffin’s service. From a talent standpoint, Griffin is definitely worth looking at, but that’s as far it should go with the Cowboys.

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This year’s draft is weak in terms of can’t-miss quarterbacks. The draft doesn’t consist of franchise quarterbacks like Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jameis Winston, and Marcus Mariota, to name a few.

Paxton Lynch of Memphis and Jared Goff of California lead the way as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.

After those top two quarterbacks, there aren’t any sure first rounders. However, there are other college quarterbacks that are very talented with potential to be franchise quarterbacks one day. Michigan State’s Connor Cook, Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State, and Christian Hackenberg of Penn State are a few others.

Then there is the next tier of quarterbacks, guys predicted to go in the late rounds, like North Carolina State’s Jacoby Brissett. If there is one sleeper at quarterback heading into this year’s draft, its the Wolfpack’s Brissett.

If the Cowboys don’t use their top pick on Lynch or Goff, Brissett is definitely someone the Cowboys should draft in the later rounds or sign to a rookie free agent contract. At 6-3, 235 pounds, good arm strength, and a high quarterback IQ, Brissett has the frame and the mobility to play in the NFL. Brissett’s mobility allows him to move in the pocket, throw on the run and escape would-be tacklers.

Being able to escape trouble in the pocket is one of Brissett’s best assets because he’s able to keep plays alive and find open receivers, not to mention he’s a nightmare for opposing defenses. Brissett has plenty of highlights where he sheds tackles, completes a pass, and avoids a sack while gaining a first down or even scoring a touchdown.

Brissett is the type of quarterback that will not go down on his own. Brissett keeps plays alive like a running back, fighting for extra yardage at any cost.

With Brissett’s scrambling ability, arm strength, and big frame, he’s a mixture of Romo and Pittsburgh Steerlers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Combine Brissett’s vision and pocket awareness, Brissett is definitely a prime candidate to groom as a backup quarterback or Romo’s future replacement.

As the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback for the last two years, Brissett had to carry the team on his back, making big play after big play to win games for his team, similar to Romo. Against their long time rival, North Carolina Tar Heels, Brissett brought his team back from a 35 point deficit to fall by only 11 points, 45-34.

If not for Brissett’s determination and play making ability, the game would have been over at halftime.

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In Brissett’s final collegiate season, he completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,662 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In addition, Brissett rushed for 370 yards on 139 carries for six touchdowns.

Those aren’t Heisman-type numbers, but keep in mind Brissett played with a porous offensive line and young wide receivers who either ran poor routes or dropped passes. Also, Brissett faced football powerhouses Florida State and Clemson over the last two years and played extremely well. The Seminoles and Tigers have both played in the College Football Playoff, with the Seminoles winning a national championship in 2013.

Ironically, in Brissett’s final collegiate football game, Brissett lost to Prescott’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, 51-28.

Like Brissett, Prescott is another quarterback the Cowboys should take a long look at, but because the Cowboys have so many pressing needs, there’s a strong possibility Prescott won’t be available.

However, there’s a good chance Brissett will be available. If that’s the case, the Cowboys should draft Brissett and not look back.

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