Dallas Cowboys: How good is the quarterback depth?

By Stephen Forsha | Jul 30, 2017

Kellen Moore #17 of the Dallas Cowboys prepares to take the snap against the Washington Redskins during the first half at AT&T Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

The Dallas Cowboys are confident in Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback, but how much faith do they have in those playing behind him?

Most fans of the Dallas Cowboys want to forget the mess that was 2015 at the quarterback position. However, looking at the quarterback depth chart of the Cowboys heading into 2017, should everyone be content with the signal callers behind Dak Prescott?

Last season, when Tony Romo was injured in the preseason, the Cowboys were very fortunate to have Prescott as a backup option. Remember, going into training camp last year, he was the third option at the position. And Dallas were coming off of a 4-12 season in 2015 when Romo’s injury wasn’t backed up by someone ready to carry the load.

With the Hall of Fame Game less than a week away, though, and with the Cowboys having had to make moves at the position, where do things stand with the quarterback depth chart?

Behind Prescott at quarterback are Kellen Moore, Cooper Rush and recently signed Luke McCown with Zac Dysert having a herniated disk in his back, an injury he suffered off the field in a complete accident. With it now unlikely Dysert will be a part of the roster this season, the battle for the backup role and third string spot at quarterback is important as ever.

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Moore should be in front as the top backup quarterback on the roster, as that would have been his role last season if not for his broken fibula in training camp last year. Moore has played in three games for the Cowboys, all coming in the 2015 season. In those three games, he made two starts, completing 58.7 of his 104 passes. He threw for 779 yards late in that season, tossing four touchdowns and six interceptions.

That makes a lot of sense, and the Cowboys can ill afford to lose Moore for a second consecutive season. He’s talented and the best option for the team in the backup role if something happens to Prescott this season.

Behind Moore right now are Rush and McCown. Rush is an undrafted rookie free agent from Central Michigan. His final collegiate season saw him complete 59.8 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. For his four years at Central Michigan, Rush completed 62 percent of his passes with 90 touchdowns and 55 interceptions in 50 games.

As for McCown, he’s a nice fill-in for the preseason, but he’s not likely to be on the roster for a long period of time. McCown made his last start in 2015 and in that start versus the Carolina Panthers, he was 31-of-38 for 310 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. For his career with five teams before signing with the Cowboys, McCown has completed 62.8 percent of his passes (356 attempts) with nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

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The Cowboys seem content with Prescott, Moore and Rush, in that order, for the start of the season. But it would be smart to keep an eye on this depth chart. Depending on what other franchises decide with their quarterbacks, maybe a better option will become available via free agency. The Cowboys must do everything possible to be prepared for a Plan B and even a Plan C in 2017 to avoid a repeat of 2015 at all costs.

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