1) Rush is unproven. We really don't know what he is capable of doing.
2) Dak may hold out. Dalton is an insurance policy against this.
3) Dak might be wanting too much money. I believe the QB market might be dropping. $35M is too many eggs in one basket. Goff, Wentz, and Wilson are vastly overpaid. Much cheaper QBs might be able to achieve 85% of what the top QBs can do. And it might be enough.
4) Dalton here sends a message to Dak that this train is moving with or without you. Dak has a golden opportunity. Very good pay, best QB job in the NFL, offensive weapons galore. Don't be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Imagine some other QB leading this offense while you are getting market value ($20-something million) with some other team.
4) The running QB is the future (several years out) and teams need more than one capable QB to cover for injury. So the amount of dollars allotted to the QB position has to be spread out.
5) Dalton could be turned into some good trade value assuming another team's QB gets hurt late in camp or early in the year. Assuming Rush or DiNucci or Thorson show they are capable of backing up.
6) The coronavirus effect: any player who tests positive in the season might have to be quarantined for two weeks or more until they test negative. Might need an extra capable QB on the roster this year.
7) Lastly, maybe Dalton is better. I don't think so but never know until we see them in action. Training camp will let you know since all variables are the same. Or maybe they are just as good. Or maybe Dak is only slightly better so rather pay Dalton $20M than Dak $35M.
8) There really is no downside to signing Dalton other than taking practice time from Rush and Thorson. DiNucci will probably see little practice time and even less game action since the Cowboys most likely will want to stash him on the PS for a year. Let him take a redshirt, better for his long term development.
For those against the Dalton signing, were you also ripping the Saints for signing Winston for even more money than the Cowboys signed Dalton?
Book worthy post. Thanks. The only thing I have to add are possible scenarios.
1. There are two games left in the regular season, but Dak is hurt. The Cowboys are neck and neck with the Eagles for the NFC East crown. If we win out, we take the title and go to the playoffs. If we don't, and the Eagles win out, it's theirs. In the second-to-last and the last games of the season, who do you want starting? Andy Dalton or Cooper Rush?
2. (I really hope this doesn't happen, but it could.) Dak holds out for the first two or three games of the regular season. I would be very unhappy with him, as would many Cowboy fans, but it's possible. While Jones is doing his best negotiating to get our starter back, who do you want under center, Andy Dalton or Cooper Rush?
This is so obviously a smart signing, I'm surprised there's any controversy.
