Cowboys Eyeing QB Depth in 2026 NFL Draft

Dallas has options, but may target a QB in the middle rounds.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:19pm

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The Dallas Cowboys already have Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback, but the backup situation is less certain. The team has Joe Milton and Sam Howell on the depth chart, but ESPN's Ben Solak suggests the Cowboys could target Georgia's Carson Beck with their 5th round pick (152nd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft to bolster their QB depth.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' backup QB spot is an important position, and they may want to add a young prospect with upside to develop behind Prescott. Beck could provide that, with his experience, decision-making, and NFL-caliber traits.

The details

Solak believes Beck could be available in the 5th round, despite some reports that he may go earlier. While Beck doesn't have a clear standout trait, he has shown the ability to play within himself, make anticipatory throws, and demonstrate NFL-level timing and zip on his passes. The Cowboys have recently targeted traits over pure production in their QB2 development, so Beck could fit that mold.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for later this month.

The players

Dak Prescott

The Cowboys' starting quarterback and one of the league's best.

Joe Milton

The Cowboys' current backup quarterback.

Sam Howell

A quarterback the Cowboys added to their roster this offseason.

Carson Beck

A quarterback prospect out of Miami who played most of his college career at Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“When kept clean, Beck plays well within himself. He throws with anticipation and decisiveness, and he can flash high-caliber precision to pull receivers away from coverage when working between the numbers. Beck is very much a rhythm/confidence thrower who lets his mistakes compound, but he can also get into a pocket and throw with NFL timing and zip. This is a trait he shares with Prescott, who looks like the league's best quarterback when he's hot in the pocket.”

— Ben Solak, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Cowboys will have their 5th round pick (152nd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft to potentially select Carson Beck and add him to their quarterback depth chart.

The takeaway

The Cowboys are in a position to add a young quarterback prospect to develop behind Dak Prescott, and Carson Beck could be an intriguing option for them in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.