3 potential Quarterbacks prospects Dallas Cowboys should draft to backup Dak Prescott
Cooper Rush's 4-1 record while Dak Prescott was sidelined with a thumb injury served as a reminder to the Dallas Cowboys of the value of the backup quarterback position. Rush didn't do anything particularly noteworthy, but it might be enough to help him land a better position when he becomes a free agent in 2023.
The Cowboys would be wise to seek for a younger backup to groom once more, just as they did with Rush, an undrafted free agent in 2017. Here, we examine four individuals they ought to consider for as Prescott's prospective back-ups in the 2023 NFL Draft.
#3. Clayton Tune, Houston
Clayton Tune is a player to watch if the Cowboys were to go with a more conventional quarterback. At a height of 6 feet 3 and a weight of about 215 pounds, he fits the bill and was regarded as a leader when playing for the Houston Cougars.
Although Tune doesn't have a particularly strong arm, he is deadly accurate on short- to medium-range throws, much like Cooper Rush. He has a great deal of confidence and makes rapid judgments with the ball even without the deep ball as a key weapon. Choose a quarterback who is extremely mobile and not afraid to get struck. When looking downfield for the pass, he does take off and run with the ball while also using his mobility to evade the pass rush.
He had 11,994 yards and 104 touchdowns in his final season at Houston, compared to just 41 interceptions. In his final season, he scored 40 of those touchdowns and added five more on the ground. The redshirt senior ran for 1,248 yards overall and scored 15 touchdowns.
#2. Jake Haener, Fresno State
Jake Haener, who is undoubtedly the least mobile quarterback on this list, is a pocket passer and was quite successful for Fresno State. He was a Washington transfer who played for the Bulldogs for the previous three seasons, compiling over 9,000 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and only 17 interceptions.
In his final season, he participated in just 10 games, yet it was his most productive year. Haener finished with a completion percentage of 72.0 and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 20 to 3 while throwing for 2,896 yards.
Although Haener added eight rushing touchdowns to his career total, he only gained 109 yards overall because of sacks, which are common in college football. He still prefers to play immobile and won't sprint for the ball unless there is a lot of space.
Anyone selected as a potential QB2 will, of course, be criticized, and Haener's size is that criticism. Teams will be hesitant to add him to their rosters because he is only listed as being 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds.
#1. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who excelled at UCLA, is unquestionably the most intriguing athlete on this list.
Although Thompson-running Robinson's has made the highlight reels, he also boasts a relatively underappreciated arm. He can throw it 70 yards downfield, but he needs to work on improving his accuracy. He will still make his imprint in the NFL as a young player with his rushing, though.
Despite this, there is no reason to believe that, with the correct guidance, he can't develop into a complete player. And The Draft Network's Brentley Weissman, who acknowledges that his arm strength is unmatched but believes that in order to address his accuracy difficulties, he must improve his footwork, is a believer. In his opinion, Thompson-Robinson is a fantastic player who many coaches would want to work with, particularly when taking into account his leadership.
