The Dallas Cowboys have experimented with finding a developmental quarterback behind Dak Prescott. Trey Lance’s short stint in Dallas did not go quite as planned as the former No. 3 pick failed to solidify himself with the Cowboys before leaving in free agency this offseason.
The Cowboys turned to a trade for Joe Milton, but the dynamic quarterback has been inconsistent throughout the preseason. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox offered four teams as “dream” landing spots for Indianapolis Colts’ recently benched signal-caller Anthony Richardson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders are among the top landing spots, per Knox. Additionally, the Cowboys made the cut as a top potential landing spot for Richardson.
Let’s dive into Richardson’s potential fit with the Cowboys.
Could the Cowboys Make a Run at Colts QB Anthony Richardson?
Richardson still has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $33.9 million rookie contract. The signal-caller’s cap hit is $9.2 million in 2025 and $10.8 million in 2026.
“Richardson would have a reasonable chance to see the field and reestablish his NFL stock in Dallas, even if he might never become a full-time starter,” Knox detailed in an August 20, 2025, story titled, “Dream Landing Spots for Anthony Richardson to Resurrect Career if Colts, QB Part Ways.” “The Cowboys have fantastic pass-catchers in CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson and George Pickens. While they have a questionable backfield and an average offensive line, they’ve at least added pieces like Javonte Williams, Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Booker over the last two years.
“There’s also a non-zero chance Richardson could become the future in Dallas if he shows enough promise as Prescott’s understudy. The Cowboys could get out of Prescott’s contract in 2027—saving $45 million in cap space with a post-June 1 designation—which would also be the final year of Richardson’s rookie deal, if the fifth-year option is exercised.”
The Colts Named Daniel Jones as the Team’s Starting Quarterback Over Anthony Richardson
Perhaps the Colts and Cowboys could agree to some sort of Milton for Richardson swap, but Dallas would need to add more assets into the trade given the Indy quarterback is a former top-five pick. Indianapolis named Daniel Jones as the team’s starting quarterback for Week 1. Colts head coach Shane Steichen cited consistency as one of the main reasons for turning to Jones over Richardson.
“Daniel Jones will be our starting quarterback this season,” Steichen explained, per Indy Star’s Joel A. Erickson. “You guys heard me talk about the consistency, and that’s really what I was looking for, and really the operation at the line of scrimmage, the checks, the protection, the ball placement, the completion percentage. I think all that played a factor in it.”
The Cowboys Likely Prefer to Keep Joe Milton Over Anthony Richardson Given the Jump in Cost for the Indy QB
All this appears to be more of a “dream” than reality as the Cowboys are unlikely to move on from Milton so quickly. Milton is also on a much more team-friendly four-year, $4.2 million contract.
The signal-caller’s annual cap hit is around the $1 million mark for the next three seasons, much more affordable than Richardson. The Cowboys backup spot may be more important than most franchises given Dak Prescott’s recent injury history, leaving the door open for the Dallas front office to dream a little bit about potential options.
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