Dallas Cowboys: A legitimate backup quarterback should be a priority

Besides having a disappointing 6-10 2020 season, the Dallas Cowboys learned an invaluable lesson from that dismal season that all NFL teams know all too well. That lesson is the importance of having a good backup quarterback.

Yes, every team has a backup quarterback, but all of them aren’t that good and some are just downright awful.

After watching the Cowboys backup quarterbacks struggle mightily last season and in the preseason opener, it would be wise for the Cowboys to trade for a legitimate backup quarterback that can take the reigns in the event Dak Prescott unexpectedly goes down with an injury.

The Dallas Cowboys need to make sure they have a bond fide backup quarterback if Dak falls to injury.

To be fair, former Cowboys backup quarterback Andy Dalton was decent, and probably would have performed better with a healthy offensive line and a better defense to boot. But the former first round pick was a shell of himself and literally needed all of the aforementioned things to make a difference as a quarterback.

Trust me Dallas’ entire coaching staff and front office were scared to death Dak’s injury wasn’t a lingering issue, and with that minor injury, Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones need to be on the phone working out a trade for either Brissett or Bridgewater.

Garrett Gilbert was decent at times last year and showed flashes of being better than Dalton, but Gilbert’s flaws were magnified at times at crucial moments, too- like not capable of taking advantage of Dallas’ elite receiving corps. I’m not even going to waste your time on discussing Ben DiNucci. The same goes for Cooper Rush.

But Mr. DiNucci looks more suited to run the home & garden department at Lowes than play quarterback. I wouldn’t feel good about him playing for my church league, let alone playing under center for the Cowboys. With that mustache, DiNucci looks like he belongs in another field, but I won’t go there (Laugh Out Loud).

Dallas needs to cut ties with all of their backup quarterbacks except Gilbert and trade for a more promising one to carry the team if Dak goes down. Forget about Dallas’ defense for a moment and think about the value and importance of the backup quarterback position.

Of course, there are several backup quarterback candidates Dallas can choose from, but Dallas needs one that can get the job done. Period. They don’t have the physical traits of Dak, but they need that moxie, confidence, and clutch like Dak.

Dallas’ first choice for backup quarterback should be Miami Dolphins backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has starter potential because he’s been a full-time starter as quarterback, has the arm strength, accurate, mobile, and most importantly of all, Brissett would know how to utilize his offensive weapons to its maximum potential.

How can any quarterback not improve with Amari Cooper, Ceedee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin, Ezekiel Elliott, and Tony Pollard? How? I don’t care if you are a backup!

I know some of you are shaking your head at Brissett being a backup to Dak because he’s currently backing up Tua Tagovailoa, but the former third rounder has thrown for 6,459 yards in his career, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, completed 59.6 percent of his passes, and is 12-20 as a starting quarterback. Statistically, Brissett’s best year was 2019 when he threw for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, completed 60.9 percent of his passes, and went 7-8 as the starter of the Indianapolis Colts.

The critics will point to Brissett’s won loss record as a failure (even though wins aren’t a quarterback stat), but the Colts gave up on Brissett too early after signing him to a lucrative two-year, $30 million contract before the start of the 2019 season. We know Brissett wasn’t going to get any reps playing behind the ageless Tom Brady.

Fun fact: Brissett was drafted ahead of Dak in the 2016 draft in the third round by the New England Patriots. More proof Dallas made the right decision drafting Dak.

Basically, Brissett is a starting quarterback playing the backup role, and at worst, Brissett is on the low end of being a starting quarterback. That’s better than any of Dallas’ backups. If there’s a backup signal caller capable of keeping Dallas’ high-powered offense on the right track, its Brissett. Just watch the tape.

Another backup candidate is the reliable Teddy Bridgewater of the Denver Broncos. Bridgewater best days are behind him, but he’s an exceptional game manager that will get the job done. Bridgewater is highly intelligent, doesn’t turn the ball over, and knows how to at least get the best out of all of Dallas’ weapons.

Bridgewater knows how to make the right reads when it matters the most because he plays within the system of what the offensive coaches designs and plays to his strengths. For example, back in 2019, Bridgewater went 5-0 as the quarterback of the New Orleans because of an injury to starter Drew Brees.

During that span, Bridgewater threw for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, completed 67.9 and averaged 153.8 passing yards a game. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, but proves my point on how Bridgewater knows how to manage a football like a MLB manager.

The man knows how to play his role to perfection and that speaks volumes about his quarterback acumen. I know the Saints ranked 13th in defense that year, but Bridgewater didn’t put the Saints defense in a bad position either-where they had to bail him out.