Dallas Cowboys: 5 Cut candidates fighting for a spot at training camp

3. Ben DiNucci, Quarterback

The Cowboys invested heavily in backup quarterbacks in 2020. First, they signed Andy Dalton to a one-year deal, giving them arguably the best backup in the NFL. Then, they added Ben DiNucci out of James Madison (who also played at Pitt) in the seventh round of the draft.

It proved to be prophetic to add both players as each of them had to start games in 2020. Dalton took over during the Week 5 contest when Dak Prescott broke his ankle but when he suffered a concussion followed by a bout with COVID, Dallas had to turn to rookie Ben DiNucci.

While he wasn’t terrible, DiNucci was clearly uncomfortable and the team lost with hun under center as he was 21-of-40 passing for 180 yards in a 23-9 loss to Philadelphia. Dallas then turned to Garrett Gilbert the following week, who played much better in a 24-19 loss to Pittsburgh.

Now entering his second season, DiNucci knows he needs to improve to make the team. And he said during a recent media session that the player we saw in 2020 isn’t who he really is.

"“Obviously, I played in two games last year, but I feel like that wasn’t me out there,” DiNucci said according to Patrik Walker of CBS Sports."

To his credit, DiNucci isn’t making excuses, even if he did call the 2020 campaign weird due to COVID. But he can’t just say he needs to be better, he has to do it.

The good news for him is that Dallas didn’t add a veteran despite looking at Brett Hundley and Jeff Driskel. That means he will be competing with Gilbert, and Cooper Rush for a spot on the team — and it could depend on how many spots Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore want to dedicate to the position as to whether or not DiNucci makes the cut.