Frisco is buzzing after Dallas waived their high-upside project. Go inside The Star to separate roster reality from the wild rumors surrounding the quarterback's sudden departure.
FRISCO - Dak Prescott's backup QB is Sam Howell.
At least for today.
The Dallas Cowboys on Monday waived quarterback Joe Milton, in part to make room for new running back Emari Demercado, who was claimed off waivers from Kansas City.
So Howell is on the roster. Milton is not.
But beyond those two facts? To many, the clouds of conspiracy hover in the Frisco sky.
Let's break it down ...
1 - Did Milton, who worked as Prescott's backup in 2025, develop this offseason and perform well? No doubt.
Does that mean he automatically "deserves'' to be the No. 2 guy?
Of course not. This is the NFL. There isn't always any such thing as "deserves.''
2 - As I've reported all along, Milton is clearly the better upside project over Howell. But there are those inside The Star who trust that Howell would be the more immediately ready "bus driver'' in case of a Prescott injury.
The Washington ex Howell has 18 career starts. Milton - athletically superior to almost every QB in the NFL, not just Howell - has played in five games in two years with no starts.
3 - Did the Cowboys try to trade Milton? I'm told they did have those conversations.
But I reported days ago that the multiple outlets that suggested the Cowboys could get a third-round pick for him in a swap were badly misinformed.
That's turned out to be true.
4 - There have also been reports that Milton is "the natural heir'' as a starter when Dak leaves. That's a media notion; I've never heard anyone inside The Star sputters such nonsense.
5 - If Milton clears waivers, could he be brought back to the practice squad? Absolutely, and I find that to be a sensible idea - at which point he could return what could even be a season-long "neck-and-neck'' competition with Howell.
6 - What if another team claims him? Then another team just acquired the Cowboys' third-string QB. We'll all have to live with that.
7 - There's a rumor that Milton "demanded'' to be released. I have not been told that. Nor do I see the logic in that.
Why would a guy in competition to be Dallas' No. 2 "demand' to be subjected to waivers, where he might end up being, say, Cleveland's No. 4?
8 - Is it about money? Howell did sign a one-year deal worth $2.5 million guaranteed as a free agent. But Dallas just cut Sam Williams and his $2 mil guarantee; that's a paltry sum if the move is the right one.
9 - Please dump the idea that "Dallas was stupid to cut Milton while keeping (Mediocre Player X).'' That's a linear way at looking at roster construction ... and besides, if Milton returns, it'll be a moot point.
Oh, and if Milton doesn't return? Dallas will sign another third-string QB.
10 - What if Milton goes elsewhere and succeeds? Hey, good for him. And if he becomes a star for another NFL team? We can all cross that Road of Regrets when it happens.
