Dude, the Dallas Cowboys are already making some wild moves as they prep for 2026. ESPN’s Todd Archer just dropped his 53-man roster projection ahead of training camp, and it includes a seriously gutsy play to shore up their defense for that playoff chase. This isn’t just about roster spots, it’s about the entire philosophy going into the season.
Rolling the Dice at QB for Defensive Help
Here’s the deal: Archer’s projection has only *two* quarterbacks making the initial roster. We’re talking Dak Prescott, obviously, and then Sam Howell. That means Joe Milton III, the young guy with “intriguing tools,” is projected to miss the initial 53-man roster. Can you believe it? Archer even admitted he considered keeping Milton as a third QB but ultimately opted against it. His reasoning? Howell has that $2 million guaranteed in free agency and brings more experience and command, which totally makes sense for a backup. But Milton? He’s still young enough to develop, and the plan seems to be putting him on the practice squad, hoping to keep him in the system.
High Stakes for a Playoff Push
So why this risky move, right? It all comes down to defense. The Cowboys are pushing hard to keep an extra defensive player on the main roster. Archer’s projection is absolutely loaded, showing 11 defensive linemen and six cornerbacks. They are basically maxing out those positions to boost their defensive depth. It sounds like a solid plan on paper to chase that playoff spot, but there’s a massive “what if.” Putting Milton on the practice squad is a huge gamble because any other team can add a player from the practice squad. So not keeping him on the 53-man roster puts him at real risk of being taken elsewhere. If that happens, the Cowboys would then be scrambling to find a different QB3 to add to the organization, an essential insurance policy. Is that risk really worth one extra defensive body? They’re simply going to have to hope this strategy works out.
This whole prediction sets up a massive “what if” for the Cowboys early in the season. They’re betting big on their defensive depth to propel them into that playoff spot, but they’re leaving their quarterback situation pretty thin and exposed. They’ll just have to cross their fingers that Prescott and Howell stay healthy, or that no one scoops up Milton from the practice squad. Man, talk about living on the edge. This season is gonna be wild for them, and it’s not even September yet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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