The Dallas Cowboys’ training camp is always a pressure cooker, but the battle for the QB2 spot behind Dak Prescott has taken a dramatic turn that has the entire locker room buzzing. Following a polished, high-efficiency performance against the Seattle Seahawks this past Saturday, veteran Sam Howell has officially surged to the front of the line, creating a clear separation between him and the ultra-talented but raw Joe Milton.
While Prescott remains the undisputed face of the franchise, the reality of the NFL is that depth is the difference between a championship run and a mid-season collapse. With Howell and Milton combining for an impressive 20-of-27 passing line for 201 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, the coaching staff finally has the clarity they were looking for—and it’s pointing squarely in one direction.
The “Bayless” Verdict: Why Experience Is King
Even the most outspoken voices in the media are taking note. Veteran analyst Skip Bayless didn’t mince words after watching Howell dissect the Seahawks’ secondary, highlighting the veteran’s poise and “NFL-ready” mentality.
“I’ll take Sam Howell slightly over Joe Milton as Cowboys backup QB,” Bayless wrote. “Milton is bigger, faster w/ a stronger arm. But Howell has played far more NFL football—18 starts—so I’d trust him a little more if he had to play 3-4 games.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who understands the grueling nature of an NFL season. Joe Milton may have the “wow” factor with his physical tools, but Howell has been in the trenches. He has 18 career NFL starts under his belt, including a full season as the commander of the Washington offense in 2023. That experience, which includes surviving the fire of a 4-13 campaign where he showed legitimate flashes of elite potential, is invaluable for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
A System Fit: Why Dallas Finally Feels Like Home
Howell’s journey to Dallas has been nothing short of a whirlwind. Since departing Washington, he has had pit stops in Seattle, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. It’s the kind of journeyman path that can erode a young player’s confidence—or harden their resolve.
In Dallas, however, something has clicked. Howell looks comfortable, decisive, and rhythmically synced with the Cowboys’ offensive system. His 8-of-12 performance against Seattle, punctuated by a perfectly placed touchdown pass to wide receiver Camden Brown, demonstrated a command of the offense that Milton simply hasn’t replicated with the same consistency.
Former North Carolina head coach Mack Brown was quick to jump on social media to express his pride in his former pupil, calling Howell not just a “great quarterback” but a “much better person.” That character is exactly what Dallas needs in a backup. You don’t need a backup who tries to be the hero every snap; you need a backup who can execute, manage the clock, and keep the ship afloat if the unthinkable happens to Dak Prescott.
The Super Bowl Stakes
With odds currently sitting at +2500 to win Super Bowl LXI, the Cowboys are a team that believes their window is wide open. But a championship team is only as strong as its weakest link. If Dak Prescott goes down, does the Cowboys’ season evaporate, or can the backup step in and save the day?
With Sam Howell at the helm of the second unit, the answer is beginning to look like the latter. He has the stats—a 62.6% career completion rate and 22 career passing touchdowns—to prove he belongs in this league.
The preseason is all about testing, evaluating, and separating the contenders from the depth pieces. As the Cowboys prepare for the regular season, the message to the coaching staff is clear: Sam Howell isn’t just fighting for a job; he’s fighting to be the most important insurance policy in the NFC. If Saturday’s performance was any indication, the job is now his to lose.
