The Dallas Cowboys have made it clear that finding a quality, backup quarterback to develop for the future is a priority this offseason. The team learned the hard way what happens when Tony Romo goes down and no one is really behind him to pick up the slack. Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore all tried and failed to get a win without Romo and now owner Jerry Jones is left to determine his option. The Cowboys could simply draft someone or they could get creative with their options.
Jones made headlines when he told the media that Cowboys were open to risks for the backup position. With the No.4 draft pick, it is easy to think the Cowboys grab first-round talent to develop. However, Jones is open to anything as there could be talent hiding on other teams that Dallas could try and take advantage of.
"Well, let's just put it like this: We all would be aware that to bet on our [Kellen] Moore for our backup quarterback has elements of risk to it, but I'm not so sure that that's any riskier than anything you would do with a decision in the future," Jones said, via ESPN.com. "On the other hand, what would enhance me taking risk is a bigger upside. And if that upside is there, that old risk-reward situation, then, yeah."
Immediately, the media jumped on the idea that Jones was referring to Johnny Manziel who he has said he was a fan of or Robert Griffin III. Both quarterbacks are expected to be made available this offseason and could be placed behind Romo. The issue is that neither quarterback are a good fit for the offensive scheme Dallas runs. Romo is not a mobile quarterback like Griffin or Manziel and so the Cowboys do not run that type of offense.
If Dallas wants to find young quarterback talent, they would be wise to look at options like Mike Glennon and Zach Mettenberger who are sitting behind new franchise quarterbacks. Both young quarterbacks have shown they can compete and simply need a little more time to develop. Geno Smith could be looked at in the same regard. These guys simply need time to get practice reps in and Romo could be the perfect player to learn behind.
The draft is always an option. ESPN's Todd McShay is not thrilled on the idea that any of the quarterbacks coming out this season are ready to lead a franchise, but Dallas does not need that. Jared Goff, Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook represent the best available. Head coach Jason Garrett is not picky about where the Cowboys find their backup quarterback. He simply wants the team to get it right so they do not repeat history in 2016.
"We have to sit back and evaluate what happened this year," Garrett said via ESPN.com, "and we'll spend the next couple of weeks doing that with each of the players who had an opportunity to play with us."
