Rosen has yet to demonstrate that he's real competition for any incumbent starter in the NFL. Regardless, Dallas isn't going to acquire him.
Why is this the question? The discussion here is about backup QB.
This is how I look at it. If Dak goes down, and I know, he's never gone down yet but lets be honest, it happens to running QBs in the NFL, then we have nobody who can step in and win us games. I believe that we have a really good chance to compete for the NFC Championship and try and win a Super Bowl this year. If Dak goes down, we are going to be looking at QBs who are probably much less talented and way more expensive then Rosen is to come in, in the middle of the season and try and pick up the pieces. I mean, how often does that work in the NFL? We are going to be more then willing to spend next years picks on getting a worse option if that occurs.
I look at this and ask, who can we go out and sign that is going to be cheaper then Rosen, have starting experience, and have the talent level that he can bring to the table? Who can we draft in this years draft that can come in and be the backup for us, this year? I mean, I know it can happen, we drafted a 4th rounder who eventually ended up starting for us, but how often does that happen in the NFL? I've only seen it a few times in my lifetime and the odds of it happening to us twice in 4 years? Better chance of you or I going out and buying a lotto ticket and winning I think.
We have a real shot IMO. This is the time that you look at spending capitol you might not spend in other years. I look at this deal and I see a chance to fill a real need on this team for a period of 4 years if we decide to keep him that long. I see a chance to add a guy who could be a very valuable piece for us this season and then turn around and get our money back from him in trade if we decide to do that in a season or two. I see a player who can really help strengthen our ability to negotiate a deal with Dak, who is the key to all the rest of our future signings. If spending a 3rd on Rosen only helps us there, then it's more then worth the 3rd round pick. Would you spend a 3rd round pick to make sure that you sign Dak to a more reasonable deal?
I think people read this thread and they jump to the conclusion that somehow, it suggest that the Cowboys make a trade to replace Dak. Nothing could be further from the truth. You make this trade to strengthen your position in signing Dak. I mean, yes, it also provides an option if Dak were to leave but lets be honest, how is Dak going to leave Dallas if he doesn't agree to a new contract? The truth is that Dak is under contract for another year. If he doesn't sign, then the team Tags him and he has the option to find a trading partner or sit out a season, which doesn't help him at all. It costs him a years potential earnings, which would probably be in the area of 20 to 30 million a year. I don't see Dak doing that but I do see an agent trying to do that and I do see an agent doing all the little things they can to try and hold him out of pre season etc. All of that hurts his preparations and that honestly the worst thing for Dak. He needs all of that he can get. If you bring in a Rosen, it's not to replace Dak. It's to prepare for all of those eventualities. Dak is going nowhere IMO but the real question is, do you want to be caught flat footed and unprepared for all of those kinds of little games that agents play or do you want to do everything you can to be ready for that. If you bring in Rosen and you get him ready to play, you take those options off the table for negotiations. Dak's agent will depend on the fact that the team can not compete without Dak. He's going to use that to leverage a bigger contract because he doesn't care if Dak holds out or not. He gets paid on a percentage of the deal and not on when he reports etc. The agent is interested in signing the biggest deal he can because that's his best opportunity to make the most money. If you take that tool off the table, then the threat of Dak sitting out of OTAs or missing Training Camp or sitting out games during the season are less of a critical need for the team and there by, less likely to happen because it doesn't provide any advantage to Dak if the Cowboys have a capable backup that they can look to if needed. All of this is about signing Dak and not replacing him. I mean, it seems pretty simple to me but I don't know.
I just think that if you could get a guy like Rosen for a 3rd, it would be worth the pick in terms of filling the need at Backup QB, providing a lot of leverage for future negotiations with Dak and giving you a decent chance on return on investment if you decide to trade Rosen down the line.
JMO