Stephen Jones Says One of Cowboys' 'Goals' Is to Get a Young QB in 2025 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are set at quarterback with Dak Prescott under center, but the team is keeping the future in mind at this year's NFL draft.

Per the Dallas Morning News' David Moore, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Dallas wants to land a quarterback in the draft this year.

“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said. “I don’t know where that’s going to be.

“That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”

The Cowboys had a decent backup quarterback in Cooper Rush in 2024, who ultimately finished out the year as the starter following Prescott's injury, but Rush is set to hit free agency this offseason.

“You know how much we think of Cooper,” Jones said. “We just don’t know what he’s going to cost. When we’re paying Dak what we’re paying him, unfortunately we do have to go cheap there."

Rush, 31, appeared in 12 games for Dallas in 2024, throwing for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Cowboys' other option at quarterback was Trey Lance, the former third-round pick who joined Dallas in 2023 after early career struggles with the San Francisco 49ers. Lance is also set to become a free agent after the Cowboys declined his club option for the 2025 season last May.

“We took a shot at Trey and wanted to do that,” Jones said. “We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.”

The Cowboys have the No. 12 pick in the draft, but they would presumably use that selection to address other needs before taking a quarterback. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks on Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department's Big Board, will likely be selected in the first round, but there could be a few options left later in the draft. 

Other prospects such as Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Ohio State’s Will Howard would be solid options, though the NFL combine could see those players climb up the draft board and get picked up before Dallas could select either one. 

If the Cowboys can’t find a quarterback in this year’s draft, they can always pick one up in free agency and shift their focus to next year’s draft, which could have a better group of quarterbacks available. 

Should Prescott be in good health in 2025, Dallas won’t have to stress too much about finding a backup. In his last fully healthy season in 2023, Prescott was an MVP candidate and should return to that form this year. 

The Cowboys will need that version of Prescott if they want to avoid missing the playoffs again.