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The Dallas Cowboys will have Dak Prescott at starting quarterback in 2020. Assuming he doesn’t hold out anyway, that much is a given. Unable to sign him to a new deal ahead of the tagging deadline, the Cowboys slapped the franchise tag on him on March 16.

However, what happens next is anyone’s guess. Dallas fans are hoping that a new deal can be reached before the upcoming season begins but that’s certainly no guarantee given the fact that the Cowboys have already thrown a ton of money Dak’s way and he’s turned them down every single time.

Dak Prescott turned out to be a draft-day steal as he didn’t go until the fourth round. Now, perhaps looking at backup options for Prescott or if he ends up leaving down the line, the Dallas Cowboys may have their eye on one of the lesser-known quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL draft.

Who’s the backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys?

Cooper Rush, who went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2017, has been the backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys for the past few seasons but hasn’t seen much playing time given Dak Prescott’s durability.

Rush became a restricted free agent at the end of the 2019 season but was tendered by the Cowboys recently and will earn $2.14 million in 2020. Rush beat out Mike White in the 2019 preseason to earn the backup role. However, Dallas may be looking to upgrade at the backup position and may possibly be targeting a sleeper in the draft.

Could the Cowboys be looking at Case Cookus?

For those unaware, every NFL team is given 30 private visits with potential NFL draft prospects and it seems that the Dallas Cowboys were set to use one of those 30 visits on Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus. However, since all player visits have been canceled due to the coronavirus, that visit can now not happen unless it’s done via phone or video chat.

While Case Cookus may not have the name recognition of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovaiola, or Justin Herbert, he has a strong game and had a solid career at Northern Arizona. In 41 games for the Lumberjacks, Cookus threw for 12,076 yards and 105 touchdowns with just 21 interceptions, completing 62.3% of his passes. He’s 6’4″ and has drawn comparisons to Jimmy Garoppolo. He threw for 4,114 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2019, his senior season.

If he falls to the fourth, fifth, or sixth round like many are currently projecting, the Dallas Cowboys could certainly swoop him up.

How many draft picks does Dallas have?

The Dallas Cowboys currently hold seven picks in the 2020 NFL draft.

  • Round 1, Pick No. 17 
  • Round 2, Pick No. 51
  • Round 3, Pick No. 82
  • Round 4, Pick No. 123
  • Round 5, Pick No. 164
  • Round 5, Pick No. 179 (compensatory)
  • Round 7, Pick No. 231

As per usual, there’s no shortage of fun when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys. Stay tuned and stay safe out there.

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Senior Writer, Programmer

Luke Norris

Luke Norris began his sportswriting career in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2020. The former Section Editor of the NFL and Motorsports sections, he now spends his time here in the role of Senior Writer-Programmer. His well-rounded sports knowledge allows him to cover the NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, MLB, boxing, WWE, and NASCAR for Sportscasting.

Luke is an avid golfer who finds inspiration in the way sports can bring people together and provide a distraction from the real world. He hopes to provide a little entertainment or an escape from the real world with every article he writes, even if only for a few minutes.

In addition to his work here at Sportscasting, Luke’s work has appeared on  The Sportster, Inquisitr, GiveMeSport, FanSided, Yahoo! Fox Sports, and Sports Illustrated.