Tag: cooper rush

Follow the Money: Breakdown of Cowboys QBs salaries, cap hits

A breakdown of the cap spending at the quarterback position and how Dallas needs to address the group this offseason. | From @ArmyChiefW3

It should be no surprise that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would never give up the final say. Be honest with yourself, would you give up control if you owned the Cowboys? From social media to deep-rooted content creators, there seems to be an endless supply of comments regarding what Dallas should do with their roster, but things will always lie in the hands of the Joneses.

And how have they allocated their large treasure chest when it comes to building a winner? This series takes a look at how Dallas has allocated their salary cap and what’s on tap for the 2024 season, prior to the start of the new league year.

First up, is the quarterback position. Hat tip to Over The Cap for the base numbers of each player’s contract.

Cowboys-Packers final wild-card injury report: Alexander missing, Gilmore good

The final injury report for Sunday’s wild-card game shows each team’s status and what’s been ailing them. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys ended their regular season with a serious question about their starting cornerback. The Green Bay Packers ended theirs with no such concerns. But as the week of practice leading up to Sunday’s wild-card matchup has concluded, the two teams have reversed positions.

Friday’s practice came with an escalated workout for Stephon Gilmore, who dislocated his shoulder in the Week 18 win in Washington. Meanwhile Jaire Alexander twisted his ankle in practice on Wednesday and hasn’t seen the football field since. Gilmore wasn’t even given a game designation of questionable, that’s how well he’s recovered.

The Cowboys have six players who’ve been monitored throughout the week, with the latest addition being Cooper Rush. It had appeared the club had kicked the illness bug, but Rush missed Friday’s practice. Hopefully no one else comes down with the cold over the next 48 hours.

Here’s a look at the full slate of injured players and how their weeks went.

NFC West Watch: 49ers trade QB Trey Lance to Cowboys

Here’s a breakdown of what it means for all three teams.

In one of the strangest trades in recent memory, yesterday the 49ers dealt quarterback Trey Lance to the arch-rival Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. It’s a perplexing and fascinating trade on many levels – and says a lot about both organizations – which are among the NFC contenders that the Seahawks will likely have to get past this year if they intend to finally get back to the conference title game for the first time in nearly a decade.

Here’s a breakdown of what it means for all three teams.

Cowboys

It’s not hard to figure out why Dallas did what they did, here. Their third-string QB Will Grier was less than inspiring in last weekend’s preseason loss to Seattle, so Jerry Jones went out of his way to get the former No. 3 overall pick. According to Cowboys Wire, Lance will be playing in the QB3 spot behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, who started five games last year, posting a lucky 4-1 record while Prescott was out injured. If that happens again, the Cowboys have another option who is far more athletically gifted than Rush.

49ers

While it’s always nice to get a fourth-round pick for a guy who would have been your third-string quarterback, this trade reflects pretty poorly on the Niners front office and their process with Lance from start to finish. The injury he suffered early last season was nobody’s fault, but the rest of it was low-quality work from the trade to get him until the end. This week’s admission that the Niners didn’t even build an offense for Lance proves that he never had a legitimate chance to start long-term. And so, their backup behind Brock Purdy will be Sam Darnold, an atrocious starter at this level but has more lives than a black cat.

Seahawks

In some ways this is a wash for Seattle in that one backup quarterback with high upside is going from one NFC contender to another. However, it could turn out quite lucky for the Seahawks depending on how the Niners’ season goes. If Purdy can’t reproduce the late-season magic he had last year, Kyle Shanahan may give the ball to turnover-prone Darnold, which could bode very well for the Seahawks – no matter how loaded the rest of their roster is.

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6 QBs Mike McCarthy has developed before Trey Lance

The Cowboys’ skipper has been in charge of offenses for the duration of the 2000s. How have his inexperienced QBs fared? | From
@KDDrummondNFL

Mike McCarthy might have inherited Dak Prescott as an entrenched starting quarterback, but he’s had a role in the development of several other quarterbacks who hadn’t yet ascended. The Dallas Cowboys have acquired third-year quarterback Trey Lance via a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and it’s a move that appears all upside, little risk for the Cowboys.

Lance comes with two years remaining on his rookie contract, and if he shows any semblance of development over the course of the season, Dallas has the ability to place the fifth-year option on him. Of course there’s a long way to go from a career QBR under 40 to that, but the head coach of the Cowboys has had some interesting results in developing quarterbacks since his early days as an offensive coordinator.

Is Cooper Rush overrated, underrated, or simply the ideal QB2 for the Cowboys?

Looking into the numbers to determine whether the Cowboys QB2 Cooper Rush is overrated, underrated, or somewhere in between as a QB. | From @ReidDHanson

When Cooper Rush was thrown into the fire in Week 1 of last season, expectations were low. Previous to 2022, Rush only had one career start to his name. Over the course of those four previous seasons, he was 31 for 50, throwing for 424 yards and posting a career QBR under 41 (well below average).

So when Rush went 4-1 in place of the injured Dak Prescott early last season, just about everyone experienced some degree of surprise. Rush didn’t light the world on fire, but he did enough to get the job done for the Cowboys.

As a result of his success in 2022, it was believed the Cowboys would have a difficult time retaining their season-saving QB2.

Rush entered free agency in March, coming off the best season of his career but he didn’t garner the interest many thought he would on the open market.

After testing the lukewarm waters of free agency, Rush reupped with Dallas, signing a 2-year, $5 million deal to reclaim his role as Prescott’s top back-up.

Given the lack of interest in free agency it begs the question: Was Rush overrated in Dallas?

Even for a back-up spot, Rush’s contract was modest by most standards. It stands to reason the demand wasn’t much for the 30-year-old QB and he wasn’t viewed to be quite the asset nationally as he was locally.

The numbers seem to validate such an idea. While his win-loss record (4-1) and touchdown to interception ratio (5-3) looked strong, his adjusted yards gained per pass attempt (AY/A) dropped to a paltry 6.3, his yards/g sat at 116.8 and his QBR ended at 58.7.

Advanced stats were also fairly meager. In expected points added plus completion percentage over expected (EPA+CPOE composite) Rush’s 0.009 came in at 44th in the NFL last season, placing him right in the middle of QB2 territory.

Rush posted just a 42.6 success rate, which placed him at 38th in the NFL and his adjusted EPA/p was 0.006 which ranked him 32nd (Prescott was top-10 in all categories).

At the end of the day, Rush looked like a back-up QB, both on film and by the numbers. He took care of the football and was able to make a few big plays here and there, but primarily he just let the defense carry the load and took advantage of situations when they presented themselves.

He may not be someone who’s going to win games but he’s someone who knows how to play within himself and won’t lose games either. On a team like the Cowboys who have an elite defense and homerun hitters on offense, he fits nicely.

On a less talented team where the QB is needed to do heavy lifting to compete, he doesn’t fit as well.

Which explains the tepid reception he was given in free agency.

Whether he’s overrated, underrated or appropriately valued depends on everyone’s individual expectations for Rush. It’s safe to say there are only a handful of teams in the NFL Rush could have gone 4-1 with because it’s hard to win in this league with a QB who consistently throws for under 200 yards/g.

But on the Cowboys, he’s a great fit. The team knows what they’re getting from Rush and can formulate the proper gameplan to win with him. Rush knows his defense and the playmakers around him can get the job done so he doesn’t have to feel the pressure to press. It’s a perfect marriage because of the familiarity between player and team.

Overrated?

Underrated?

Who cares? It’s a good fit.

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Jacoby Brissett is ranked as the NFL’s No. 4 backup quarterback

But somehow is the NFC East’s third-ranked backup QB.

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When the Washington Commanders signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett this offseason to compete with Sam Howell, they knew, at the least, they’d have one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks.

Brissett was a priority in free agency, landing a one-year deal worth $8 million. However, throughout Washington’s offseason, Howell has worked with the first team. After a slow start in OTAs, Brissett came on during minicamp and closed the gap.

Head coach Ron Rivera said that Howell did enough this offseason to enter training camp as “QB1” but refused to name him the starter.

While it appears that Howell is trending to be the starting quarterback for Week 1, Brissett can’t be counted out.

Former NFL head coach and longtime assistant Marty Mornhinweg recently named his list of the league’s top 10 backup quarterbacks for The 33rd Team. He shows some respect to Brissett, slotting him at No. 4.

I’m a little biased toward Jacoby Brissett because my older son Skylar played with him at the University of Florida. Brissett is 30, and he’s got an 84.4 passer rating in 48 starts in his seven-year career. He’s one of the more experienced backups.

His 48-23 touchdown-to-interception ratio is pretty good. He still possesses good movement and running ability. Brissett has proven he can come in and win games. He’s one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the NFL and should be starting somewhere.

Fair enough. Many consider Brissett the NFL’s top backup, or at least in the top three, with Andy Dalton often ranked ahead of him. Dalton is a longtime successful starter who has done well in recent seasons as a backup. That makes sense.

Mornhinweg has Dalton at No. 2 behind Tyrod Taylor [New York Giants]. At No. 3, he has Cooper Rush ahead of Brissett.

You can make the argument for Taylor being ahead of Brissett. Not for Rush. Yes, the Cowboys played well with Rush under center last season, going 4-1 as the starting quarterback. Rush also has an excellent cast around him on offense and defense.

Brissett has a much longer track record of success.

While Washington is thrilled to have Brissett, the hope is he doesn’t play in 2023, as that would mean Howell has enjoyed success.

CeeDee Lamb one PFF’s best NFL players under 25

CeeDee Lamb was named one of Pro Football Focus’ best players under 25 ahead of the 2023 season.

A legendary Oklahoma Sooner in his own right, CeeDee Lamb has become every bit the star anyone a fan of the Crimson & Cream imagined he would be when he declared for the NFL Draft.

He enters his fourth year in the NFL and has become a star for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are trying to regroup from another playoff loss. They haven’t reached the NFC Championship in nearly 30 years.

For Lamb, last year was a major turning point in his NFL career.

Lamb was tasked with becoming the number-one receiver in the Cowboys’ receiving corps after a pre-draft trade sent former No.1 receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. The front office and his coaches put the onus on the Cowboys’ newest No. 88 to live up to the illustrious standards held by receivers who wear that number.

Early on, Lamb struggled with the task and lost his starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb injury on his throwing hand for five games. Lamb had to adjust to backup QB Cooper Rush.

The season rumbled on, Prescott returned, and the duo unlocked a chemistry they hadn’t before.

The result?

Lamb finished 2022 with 107 catches for 1,359 yards and scored nine touchdowns. His 107 catches are the third-most in franchise history, while his 1,359 yards are fifth-most for a single season. Lamb also did this with defenses keyed in on him weekly. The remaining Cowboys receivers were ranked at or near the bottom of the league in separation. Meaning they struggled to get open, allowing opposing defenses to double CeeDee without fear of paying for it elsewhere in the passing attack.

Lamb answered the bell, and now, with a year under his belt as the alpha in the room, he will look to build on that and take his game to another level.

Pro Football Focus believes Lamb is the ninth-best player in the NFL under 25. His teammate and fellow All-Pro, Micah Parsons, is No.1. Trevor Sikkema of PFF also believes Lamb is the third-best wide receiver under 25 behind two former LSU Tigers in Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.

Lamb has been an immediate impact player for the Cowboys since they drafted him in 2020. He recorded just under 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie years and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past two seasons. His receiving grade has increased rapidly, from 72.6 in 2020 to 84.8 in 2021 and 87.0 in 2022. The only player with more explosive plays of 20 yards or more in the past two years is Justin Jefferson. – Sikkema, PFF

What’s next for CeeDee Lamb? Aside from the pursuit of a Super Bowl, an extension is looming for the talented wide receiver out of Richmond, Texas. The Cowboys picked up his fifth-year option, something only available to first-round picks. He’s coming off a career season in which he was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro and is expected to count $17.99 million against the cap in 2024, assuming Dallas doesn’t get a long-term deal in place before that season. Lamb will count just $4.45 million against the cap in 2023, with a $2.52 million base salary.

Owner Jerry Jones has been a proponent of paying guys drafted by the team. With an ever-increasing salary cap, the Cowboys will pay the money necessary for CeeDee. It’s simply a matter of when.

In the interim, Lamb’s attention will be on 2023. He has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer and now a new play-caller in head coach Mike McCarthy.

As Oklahoma fans have learned, change doesn’t stop CeeDee Lamb. From a different quarterback every year in college to playing with multiple in the NFL, Lamb has delivered.

The 2023 season should be no different.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Did Bengals target Cowboys free agent QB Cooper Rush?

Were the Bengals going after a QB in free agency?

Were the Cincinnati Bengals in on Dallas Cowboys free agent quarterback Cooper Rush?

Backup quarterback has been one of those spots a bit lost in the conversation for the Bengals this offseason, as it was generally assumed the team would keep continuity and bring back Brandon Allen again.

But during a Q&A responding to questions about Rush returning to the Dallas Cowboys, Nick Eatman of the Cowboys’ official website offered a pretty interesting nugget:

Nick: From the sound of things, the Cowboys got pretty lucky that he returned. He was getting close to taking another offer with either the Raiders or Bengals. But I don’t think he ever really wanted to leave. And sometimes, just comfort alone is hard to beat. Cooper Rush is a solid backup that is a proven winner. 

Rush, 29, has attempted 212 passes since entering the league in 2017 and been a valuable backup for the Cowboys.

Any potential interest by the Bengals would have made sense here, regardless of whether coaches wanted a camp body to pair with Allen or to replace their own free agent. The coaches got a close look at Rush last season when he led the Dak Prescott-less Cowboys to a win over the Bengals in Week 2.

If this has real traction, it’s safe to presume the Bengals will be mildly active on backup quarterbacks in the coming days and weeks. The team currently only has Jake Browning under contract behind Joe Burrow.

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Cooper Rush returns on 2-year deal as Cowboys backup QB

The Cowboys kept their quarterback room together with the re-signing of last year’s four-game winner. From @BenGrimaldi

While most Dallas Cowboys fans await the addition of a quality wide receiver that continues to be teased, the team made a move to keep someone who might be throwing him the ball. The Cowboys re-signed quarterback Cooper Rush to keep him entrenched as their backup for the next two seasons.

Coincidentally, the two-year deal matches with how long starting QB Dak Prescott has left on his contract. The Cowboys are keeping the QB room that combined to win 12 games together for the at least the next few years.

Rush will be entering his eighth season with the Cowboys, all of them playing behind Prescott. The veteran QB got his first extended playing time in 2022 when Prescott was out with a thumb injury and led the team to a 4-1 record. Rush also filled in for one game in 2021, winning a road outing against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 325 yards, and leading the game-winning drive.

In his career, Rush has compiled a 5-1 record and thrown for eight touchdowns.

The Cowboys have expressed a desire to select a quarterback in this year’s draft and Rush’s new deal shouldn’t stop that from happening. The team does love to have continuity and re-signing Rush keeps a harmonious QB room in Dallas.

There were doubts about Rush being a top backup option, but his play over the last two seasons have quieted most concerns. His ability to play within the structure of the offense and mostly avoid turnovers has helped the team win games.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

The free agent pool for veteran backup QB options is draining quickly

The free agent pool for veteran backup QB options for the Detroit Lions is draining quickly

Jared Goff remains the only quarterback under contract for the Detroit Lions. After the first few days of free agency, the Lions have yet to add a veteran who could back up Goff. The remaining options in free agency are quickly dwindling, too.

Several of the leading options for Lions GM Brad Holmes have already signed elsewhere. The latest is Cooper Rush, who returned to the Dallas Cowboys on a two-year deal worth $6 million–a perfectly affordable rate for an experienced, quality backup QB.

Rush joins Gardner Minshew, Andy Dalton, Jarrett Stidham, Drew Locke and others as viable options to back up Goff now off the market. Case Keenum, Marcus Mariota, Nick Mullens, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold — they’re all gone, too.

Not all of those were viable options for Detroit; some would have been poor schematic fits or too expensive for the role. However, that’s looking like the reality of the remaining quarterbacks in free agency. Names like Carson Wentz and Teddy Bridgewater have experience but likely draw bigger contracts than the Lions figure to devote to the position. Other options include Mason Rudolph, John Wolford, Brandon Allen or Nathan Peterman — none of whom would represent upgrades over lats year’s No. 2, Nate Sudfeld, who also remains available.

Lions GM Brad Holmes knows he’s ‘got to do a better job’ at getting a backup QB

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