The Dallas Cowboys enter the new season with a lot of optimism. We are all feeling it. Just admit it. Why’s that? Well, everyone is looking at this defense to take a major step forward under the new scheme, and everything we are hearing is promising. If that unit can just tighten the screws and become a little bit of a disruptive force, this team is a certified contender. That’s because the offense is pretty darn good. With all the main components locked in, this unit is a well-oiled machine, and we know exactly what we’re getting from them.
But hold your horses, because offenses only go as far as the quarterback can drive it. For the Cowboys, Dak Prescott has the keys. When he’s behind the wheel, good things happen. Unfortunately, going back to 2019, Prescott has fallen into an unsettling, zig-zag availability pattern. One year, he’ll play at least 16 games, then boom, at least five games missed the next.
If that historical trend holds true, we are officially on regular-season injury watch. Now, we are not saying injuries follow a perfect math equation, but ignoring the risk is total denial. Dak turns 33 next month. The body doesn’t bounce back from turf like it used to. Every time he lands hard, every single fan will be holding their breath.
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Losing your franchise quarterback is usually a one-way ticket to a top-five draft pick; however, a good contingency plan changes everything. We saw it with Cooper Rush going 4-1 in 2022 to preserve the season. So we must ask ourselves, do the Cowboys have a security blanket on this roster right now? We. Don’t. Know. And that is what makes this year’s camp battle between last year’s developmental project, Joe Milton III, and the newly acquired Sam Howell so intriguing. They are total opposites, and who emerges victorious is anyone’s guess. Training camp will be the ultimate decider, but before we get to that part, we thought we should prepare ourselves by understanding what each of these guys has to offer and what we should be watching closely when they’re throwing the ball around in sunny California.
Sam Howell
If you want the guy who can step in today and run the actual playbook, Howell is your baseline. He started 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023, throwing for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s the team’s best bet for stepping in right away and running the playbook. He can be a game manager and get the ball into the hands of his playmakers, giving the offense a fighting chance. Plus, the guy has some sneaky athletic wheels to pick up dirty yards on third down. Burn and turn.
But do not let those starting stats blind you. Howell has spent the last two seasons riding the pine. During his lone year as a starter, he led the entire league in both interceptions and sacks. When the pocket collapses, he freezes. He holds the ball, his instincts wilt, and the negative play expectation goes through the roof.
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Joe Milton III
The flip side of the coin is Milton. He only had one real game of NFL tape from his New England days, but the raw traits were provocative, which is why the Cowboys traded for him. He is a big guy who does not appear perturbed when the edges cave in. He possesses a certified rocket launcher for a right arm and can flip the field in a single second. Escape and launch.
But his upside comes with a massive tax. Milton completely ignores the boring, drive-sustaining plays. He has shown zero ability to layer a nice, catchable ball to keep the chains moving. The touch is nonexistent, the accuracy is erratic, and his progressions are slower than airport security. He is the exact kind of quarterback who looks exciting until he makes that one throw that makes you throw your remote straight through the television.
Camp Evaluation
So who actually wins the right to back up Dak? Training camp will answer many questions, but for each of these guys, it’s going to come down to a lot of the same things. Who is setting the pre-snap protections? Who can communicate when the defense shows a late blitz? Who has the internal clock to find the check-down or throw the ball away?
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Avoid negative plays. That is the ultimate goal. When the bullets fly in the preseason, we need to see where the ball goes. Is it going into triple coverage or sailing over a receiver’s head into the waiting arms of an opposing safety? Howell might feel like the safe bet today because of his experience, but everything changes once joint practices start. When the pressure is unscripted, all bets are off. Most fans don’t have a dog in the fight. We just want a guy who can steer the ship away from treacherous waters.
No matter how this battle shakes out in Oxnard, the goal remains exactly the same. The Cowboys need a reliable insurance policy so a temporary Dak injury does not tank their season. Whether it is Howell playing the game manager or Milton turning into a human highlight reel, the coaching staff will buckle in with the guy who proves he can move the chains without crashing the car.
Who do you have as QB2 – Sam Howell or Joe Milton III?
