Dak Backup: Did Cowboys Miss Out On QB Colt McCoy?

Colt McCoy was on the wish list of an assortment of NFL teams as a backup. The Arizona Cardinals have won the services of the former University of Texas standout, the QB signing a one-year contract to be the No. 2 behind Kyler Murray.

Did the Dallas Cowboys miss out?

In his career, McCoy has completed 60.7% of his passes for 6,455 yards, 30 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He has served mostly in a reserve role and will do that now behind the budding star Murray as they work together to keep coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense humming.

Who is going to do that for coach Mike McCarthy's offense in Dallas should Dak - who was lost for the 2020 season due to that gruesome ankle injury - go down?

“There are definitely some veterans we’ve talked to who I’m sure would like the opportunity to be here,” McCarthy said recently, “now that Dak’s contract is done, and I think everyone has a clear understanding of what that room is potentially going to look like.”

We've pushed in this space for the idea of Alex Smith, the former Washington NFL Comeback Player of the Year. When McCarthy says Dallas has talked to an assortment of vet QBs? One figures that Brett Hundley, Brian Hoyer, Robert Griffin III, Matt Barkley, A.J. McCarron, Blake Bortles and Blaine Gabbert might be on that list.

More names could come free later.

Additionally, with 10 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, Dallas could select a prospect like Kellen Mond of Texas A&M or am Ehlinger of Texas.

And maybe as a last resort, the Cowboys stick with the existing backups, Garrett Gilbert, Cooper Rush and Ben DiNucci.

But a bunch of those ideas sound less appealing than McCoy.

McCoy, 34, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants.

While in Austin, McCoy was the starting quarterback for the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009 and he won the 2008 Walter Camp award and then was a 2008 and 2009 Heisman Trophy finalist.

Add it up, and Arizona just made its QB situation about as solid as it gets. Dallas? Signing Dak was the first step to doing the same. Colt McCoy - or now, somebody like him - seems a needed second step.

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