For years, Dak Prescott has been Dallas’ franchise QB and the one expected to take them back to the promised land. However, in recent years, his time at the Cowboys has been plagued by injuries at various points, which have prevented him from fulfilling his promise. But during these injury crises, the team has had one reliable name, who has stepped up and delivered. He was there in 2022 when Prescott fractured his thumb, and again last year when the starting the QB’s campaign ended prematurely following a hamstring injury. We are of course talking about Cooper Rush, who left Dallas on Sunday after a nearly eight-year stint. While this move might surprise you, the writing was on the wall after the franchise appeared to have sabotaged him last year.

With Prescott still recovering, you would expect Jerry Jones to make some moves to help the QB room in Dallas. Or should you? Well, we are talking about Jerry Jones here. Last month, when the divisive Cowboys owner said that one of their aims “is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” it implied that the clock was ticking on one of their backup quarterbacks. But with already Trey Lance in free agency, they announced the departure of Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens. Given how he held the fort in Prescott’s absence, he was quick to acknowledge Rush’s efforts.

After the news broke that the former Cowboys backup QB has signed a two-year contract worth up to $12.2 million to join the Ravens, Prescott shared an emotional farewell to Cooper Rush on Instagram. Prescott re-shared a post on his IG story from @footballforever announcing the signing. The post featured Rush in his Cowboys uniform with the word “SIGNED” behind him. Prescott added his own message, writing, “Thank you Brother ❤️”, showing appreciation for his longtime teammate.

Rush signed with the Cowboys in 2017 as an undrafted free agent from Central Michigan and served as Prescott’s backup for three seasons. Following the signing of veteran Andy Dalton under Mike McCarthy, Rush was released. But he rejoined the Cowboys after a short stint with the New York Giants after Prescott fractured his right ankle. Since then, the relationship between him and Prescott has been strong.

He stepped up in key moments, mainly during Prescott’s injury absences, doing it notably in 2022. He led Dallas to four consecutive wins, ending with a 4-1 record in five starts, and proved that he more than belonged on the big stage. Rush threw for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions that season. Back then, Rush praised the impact of Prescott and spoke highly of him.

“I’ve said before he’s helped tremendously with our room, myself, and everyone else on the sidelines. He’s bringing energy, that’s just who he is as a person or a leader,” he said. Rush came into the limelight once again during the last season after Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in Week 9 at the Atlanta Falcons.

He started eight games for the Cowboys, leading them to a 4-4 record with 1,844 passing yards and 12 TDs to his name in 12 games overall, completing 60.7% of his passes. Having been the starting QB since Week 10, he was then dropped in favor of Trey Lance in Week 18 and if you look closer, it may have led to his exit from the team.

Rush was due his full play-time incentive for the 2024 season, had he started in Week 18. But it appears Dallas smartly avoided paying the backup QB the additional $250,000 by benching him in favor of Lance. While former HC Mike McCarthy defended the decision saying Lance “had been doing the right things,” one cannot help but think about whether this move prompted Rush to seek new pastures.

Now, he joins John Harbaugh’s Ravens, likely as a backup to Lamar Jackson. But the move also raises questions about the Cowboys’ QB strength behind Prescott.

With Lance, a free agent, the only backup for Prescott on the team is Will Grier. After a tumultuous season and the injury to Prescott, Jones faces the urgent need to address the QB situation at the Cowboys. Their primary focus to solve this remains the upcoming draft, with the Cowboys holding the No. 12, No. 44, and No. 76 picks in the first three rounds.

“ I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones told the Dallas Morning News last month. “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 have a few intriguing options at quarterback in the upcoming draft. Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, both projected as late-round picks, could serve as promising backups for Dak Prescott. Meanwhile, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, the most seasoned signal-caller in the class, brings a wealth of experience that could make him an ideal fit for Dallas.

Earlier this month, the Cowboys restructured Prescott’s contract to make $50.253 million in salary cap space. Prescott’s updated contract now carries a $52.9 million salary cap hit in 2025, $76.5 million in 2026, $70.8 million in 2027, and $80.8 million in 2028. Still, with injuries hampering Prescott, who is 32, the draft could be crucial for the Cowboys to pick their quarterback of the future.

Over the last three seasons, Prescott missed 26 games because of injuries and hence it won’t be a surprise if the Cowboys make a draft pick with the eventual goal of replacing Prescott in the coming years.

As for Cooper Rush, he might get the chance to thrive more than ever before under John Harbaugh.

Cooper Rush’s new chapter with the Ravens

Cooper Rush’s $12.2 million includes $4.2 million guaranteed. This move positions Rush as the primary backup to star quarterback Lamar Jackson, taking over from Josh Johnson. Rush’s experience and reliability make him a valuable asset for the Ravens for Baltimore’s offensive strategy.

During his tenure with the Cowboys, he amassed a 9-5 record as a starter, throwing for 2,958 yards with an 18-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 60.18% completion rate.

While Jackson has stayed relatively fit for the Ravens over the last two seasons, starting 16 and 17 games, respectively, his dynamic playing style, can expose him to potential injuries. As such the addition of Rush provides a solid backup option, in case Jackson needs some time off.

This is also a departure from the Ravens’ usual modus operandi, one which has seen them go with Josh Johnson, an NFL journeyman, and Tyler Huntley before him. The last time the Baltimore franchise made a notable move for a backup QB was in 2019. Back then they re-signed former Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III to a two-year deal worth $4 million.

As Rush looks for a fresh start under John Harbaugh, Dallas and Jerry Jones have to navigate the situation to improve their offensive stability in the coming seasons.