The Cowboys made the surprising decision to sign Sam Howell this offseason.
When the Dallas Cowboys signed Sam Howell to be part of the quarterback room, to me, that was a sign that the franchise wanted to light a fire under Joe Milton.
We know Joe's athletic traits, which are incredible, but he can't just rely on those, and in games, we've seen him, Milton, be very up and down.
Enter Sam Howell, a quarterback who has 18 starts to his name, and you could argue that he plays the position better than Milton right now.
Yes, Joe has the athletic traits, but Howell could give Dallas a better shot at winning a game or two if he's needed to step in for Dak Prescott
But many thought it was Milton's job to enter the offseason, but with Howell's signing, that notion ended.
There is a real chance that Howell usurps Milton as QB2 as the offseason rolls along, and that could be what Dallas wants. Either that or for Milton to show the type of progression the franchise wants to see.
But why did the Cowboys sign Sam? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer detailed why.
"I think we're always trying to raise the level and improve the room any chance we get," Schottenheimer said. "We've been very fortunate here, having some really great young men that are competitors filling those spots, but you're always looking to build as much depth as you can.
"A guy like Sam Howell, when you think about it, is crazy. Sam Howell has more starts than Cooper Rush, because he started the one year at Washington, right? I think the entire year, he's been exposed to a lot, been a lot of different systems, which I think is great for all of us."
So, Howell brings a level of experience that Milton doesn't, plus, he's been in different systems with the Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Seattle Seahawks.
That counts for something, as he likely has a better grasp of the position than Milton does right now. The quarterback battle will be one that I'll be watching closely in Oxnard, and how Milton progresses will be fascinating.
He's got all the physical talent in the world, but can he pair that with playing the position to a higher level? If he can, he'll beat out Howell.
If he can't, Dallas will have a new QB2 in 2026.
