The Dallas Cowboys have three quarterbacks under contract for 2024, but the franchise faces a long-term decision on Trey Lance’s future. All this has some wondering whether the Cowboys should move on from Cooper Rush and make Lance the backup quarterback. Lance still has yet to play a snap for the Cowboys since the team gave up a fourth rounder in a 2023 trade with the San Francisco 49ers.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes Dallas should either trade or cut Rush in order to save a bit of cap room. The analyst argues that it “just doesn’t make sense” to take on Rush’s expense while having Lance on the roster. Moving on from Rush also opens up a potential opportunity to see what the franchise has in Lance.

“Cooper Rush might not have much trade value, but he did come through for the Cowboys in 2022,” Ballentine detailed in a May 8, 2024 story titled, “Cowboys’ Potential Trade, Cut Candidates After 2024 NFL Draft.” “He made five starts as the backup two years ago going 4-1 and throwing five touchdowns to thee interception.… They ended up carrying Lance and Cooper Rush on the active roster. With the new rule that NFL teams can carry a third emergency quarterback without using a 53-man roster spots, it’s a little easier to hang on to developmental options. But the Cowboys can save $2.3 million against the cap by either trading or releasing Rush.

Given how tight the Cowboys budget is right now, it just doesn’t make sense to pass on that kind of cap savings when Lance has now been around for a year to learn the offense and step in if Prescott is injured.”