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Cooper Rush’s exit from Dallas was inevitable. Let’s be honest — the backup quarterback wasn’t quite the insurance policy Cowboys fans thought. The Central Michigan product has primarily served as Dak Prescott’s understudy throughout his NFL career, with a brief stint with the New York Giants in 2020. All 38 appearances and 14 starts came wearing the Dallas Cowboys star, posting a respectable 9-5 record while throwing for 3,463 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Rush has proven himself as one of the league’s more reliable backups. When Prescott went down, he kept Dallas competitive — maybe too competitive. That’s been part of the problem. Rush was good enough to win games and keep the Cowboys from bottoming out, but never good enough to push them over the top in big moments.
He was Prescott’s safety net. One the Cowboys no longer need.
The Ravens just handed Rush a two-year, $12.2 million deal to back up Lamar Jackson. In Baltimore, Rush might finally get what he couldn’t in Dallas — Super Bowl hardware. Working under offensive coordinator Todd Monken should sharpen his skills further, but the real story is what this means for Dallas. Jerry Jones is finally forcing the issue with Prescott. Can he carry this franchise without a competent backup plan?
Rush was the perfect mediocrity trap for Dallas — just good enough to keep them from landing top-10 draft picks.
A new backup for Lamar: The #Ravens and former #Cowboys QB Cooper Rush have agreed to a 2-year contract worth up to $12.2M, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2025
After a long stint in Dallas, Rush heads to Baltimore in a deal negotiated by @EquitySports CEO Chris Cabott. pic.twitter.com/5zPnbeH7lm
The Cowboys now face the urgent task of finding a new backup QB, but the message is crystal clear — it’s Dak or bust.
Why Cooper Rush’s Departure Actually Helps the Cowboys
In the NFL, I’ve always believed you need to fail fast to succeed. When you’ve invested in a franchise quarterback like Prescott, you need to know exactly what you’ve got. Despite Dak being a veteran, we’ve never truly seen him without the Rush safety blanket lurking on the sideline.
This is the ultimate stress test for Dallas’ offense. Everything falls on Prescott now. If he gets injured? The Cowboys are completely screwed.
And that might be exactly what they need.
Without Rush stopping the bleeding during Prescott absences, Dallas faces a stark reality — either Dak stays healthy and performs at an elite level, or they crash hard enough to land premium draft capital. The middle ground is gone. It’s championship contention or a top-10 pick.
Does this approach fit Jerry Jones’ philosophy? Not really. Jerry has built an empire on the illusion of competitiveness — fielding teams that look just good enough to contend without making the all-in moves champions require. He prefers control over chaos, predictability over high-risk, high-reward strategies.
At least now we’ll finally discover Prescott’s true ceiling without the cushion of a capable backup. Can he carry this team to heights it hasn’t reached since the 90s?
Don’t hold your breath. With Brian Schottenheimer taking over as head coach, the Cowboys look more like a team in transition than a serious contender.
