Dallas Cowboys: Could Biggest Offseason Need Be at Quarterback?

When Jon Kitna recently informed the Cowboys he would be retiring from football and retreating to his hometown in Washington, it posed an interesting dilemma and need for the team heading into a crucial offseason.  Although the needs heading into this offseason are both glaring and numerous, I think you need to factor in one of the old cliches of football. 

Isn't the backup quarterback position one of the most valuable positions, if not the most, on a football roster?  I believe that cliche still holds tremendous weight today and if the Cowboys learned anything from the Brad Johnson/Matt Moore fiasco, then Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones and the personnel department need to hold some weight in this theory as well. 

The major questions the Cowboys need to ask themselves are:

• Do they trust Stephen McGee enough to virtually hand over the No. 2 role? 
• Should they set their sights on drafting a QB to compete with McGee?
• Do we sign a veteran? 

The answer to the first question in my estimation would be a big fat emphatic no.  Not because McGee hasn't shown any flashes, but simply because the backup quarterback position isn't earned by default due to retirement.  That simply can't be the standard for the Dallas Cowboys roster at any position. 

Since being drafted in the fourth round in the illustrious 2009 draft that Jones crafted, he's played in three games while starting one and has a 56 percent completion rate while throwing for 420 yards, three TDs and no interceptions with an 82 passer rating.  

The recent vibe of management and Jason Garrett is that they feel comfortable with McGee as the backup heading into 2012.  On Christmas Eve against the Philadelphia Eagles I saw a confused, hesitant and inaccurate quarterback that gave me—and I'm sure other Cowboy fans—about as much faith in him as I do in the housing market or the likelihood that Jones will give up the GM gig. 

That leaves the last two questions and my answer to both of them is a big fat emphatic yes.  They need to identify a quarterback prospect in the draft and bring in a veteran as well.  I know that names like Brady Quinn, Jason Campbell, David Carr, Kyle Orton and Vince Young don't curl your toes but these options must be explored.  If McGee comes out as the clear-cut No. 2 then so be it, but that must be accomplished through a competitive process. 

This franchise simply has no choice but to weigh the backup quarterback position with the same weight as cornerback.  The window of opportunity is closing, the stakes are too high and the mediocrity has been flying around like the flu bug here in Dallas for the last 16 years. 

Quite simply, it could become the Cowboys' biggest offseason need.