Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: QB Cooper Rush

The Dallas Cowboys have a protracted checklist of unrestricted free brokers who will formally hit the open market in slightly over a month. Of these, six or seven had been important contributors in 2024, that means the Cowboys have some tough choices forward of them within the coming weeks.

We proceed our free agent profile sequence, looking at Dallas’ impending free brokers. Immediately, we look at a participant who unexpectedly performed important snaps final season, quarterback Cooper Rush.

Photograph by Ron Jenkins/Getty Photographs

2024 Common Season Stats: 8 GS, 4-4 QBRec, 60.7% Completion Share, 1,844 Passing Yards, 12 Passing Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 6.0 Y/A, 83.8 Passer Score

12 months Evaluation: For the second time up to now three seasons, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush noticed some prolonged taking part in time when Dak Prescott went out with an damage. Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in Week 9, inserting Rush as Dallas’ starter for the remainder of the common season.

Issues didn’t begin effectively for the 31-year-old veteran as Dallas acquired outscored 68-16 in his first two begins, with Rush finishing simply 57% of his passes and recording a Passer Score of 68.8. Throughout that two-game span, Rush’s -0.371 EPA/Play was the worst amongst certified beginning quarterbacks, and it appeared just like the Cowboys would want to make a change in the event that they wished any shot of staying aggressive for the remainder of the season.

After two terrible performances, Dallas’ Week 12 matchup towards the Washington Commanders ended up being a turning level for Rush’s 2024 season. The veteran had arguably his best day of the season in Dallas’ 34-26 upset win, finishing 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, recording a season-high Passer Score of 117.6.

Within the five-game stretch from Week 12 by way of Week 16, Rush accomplished 64% of his throws to go together with 9 landing passes to only one interception. His Passer Score throughout this five-game span was a powerful 100.5, and the Cowboys as a crew posted a 4-1 document. Whereas the Cowboys weren’t taking part in many high quality opponents throughout this stretch, Rush did carry out in addition to we’ve seen him all through the course of his seven-year NFL profession.

The 31-year-old’s season ended with a tough outing towards the Eagles in Philadelphia because the Cowboys opted to take a seat Rush for his or her season finale, giving younger quarterback Trey Lance an opportunity to start out.

Free Company Outlook: Though Rush did play some first rate soccer at occasions this yr, it’s laborious to see any crew within the league giving him an opportunity to start out subsequent season. The veteran’s potential free-agent market will possible be full of groups seeking to purchase an skilled, dependable veteran to fill in if their starter had been to go down for a brief time frame.

Whereas he actually hasn’t lit the world on fireplace when he’s been pressured to start out, Rush is 9-5 as a starter within the NFL, one thing few backup quarterbacks within the league have completed. Final offseason, quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo signed one-year offers price slightly over $3M every. At this level of their respective careers, Rush is probably going a extra dependable and extra productive backup than the 2, so he’ll possible attempt to earn a deal price at the very least $3M AAV on the open market.

Spotrac tasks Rush to earn a one-year, $5M deal this spring. That quantity appears honest, given what Rush has completed as a starter and the shortage of high quality backup quarterback presently within the league.

Will probably be fascinating to see if any crew values what Rush has finished over the previous three seasons sufficient to offer him a multi-year deal to be their backup. Outdoors of Sam Darnold, this is likely one of the weakest quarterback free-agent lessons in years, which can drive up Rush’s demand and land him a extra important contract than anticipated.

Cowboys Verdict: Again in 2023, the Cowboys signed Rush to a two-year, $5M deal. If the Cowboys need him again as their backup subsequent season, they could have to commit to a different multi-year deal to retain the veteran’s providers.

From the Cowboys’ perspective, even if you happen to carry Rush again, the hope could be he doesn’t should play a single important snap within the 2025 season. However with Dak Prescott’s accidents over the previous three seasons, it could make sense for the Cowboys to wish to retain a veteran backup like Rush, who’s aware of the offense and has performed at the very least league-average when he’s been pressured to start out.

Total, there possible gained’t be any crew that blows Rush away with a proposal on the open market, making a return to Dallas very possible. The Cowboys will possible be capable of work out a two-year deal that’s useful for each side, bringing the veteran quarterback again for one more season or extra.

Prediction: Cooper Rush indicators with the Dallas Cowboys for 2 years, $7.5M.