Sam Howell lands with the Cowboys, pointing to a reshaped backup QB picture

sam howell is now a Dallas Cowboy after the team signed him as a free agent following his stint with the Eagles. The move positions the Cowboys to potentially adjust the depth chart behind Dak Prescott, while putting immediate focus on what it means for Joe Milton’s standing as the previous No. 2 quarterback.

Sam Howell joins Dallas after time with the Eagles

The Cowboys “might have a new backup QB behind Dak Prescott” after signing sam howell, who is described as formerly of the Eagles. With that signing in place, the roster question that follows is straightforward: it “raises obvious questions” about Joe Milton, who had been in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

For now, the only confirmed detail in the context is the transaction itself — the Cowboys have signed Howell — and the uncertainty sits with what comes next for the rest of the quarterback room. The context frames any resolution around a near-term window, noting that those Milton-related questions “may get answered in the days ahead. ”

Washington, Seahawks, Vikings, and Eagles: the recent track record attached to Howell

Howell arrives in Dallas with a resume that includes both starting experience and frequent team changes. He was a fifth-round pick by Washington in the 2022 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, after being viewed entering his final college season as a potential first-round pick before a “bumpy season” affected his draft standing. In Washington, Howell started 18 games across two seasons and went 5-13 in those starts.

The context also emphasizes how quickly Howell’s situation has moved in the seasons since. After Washington, he spent the 2024 season with the Seahawks, briefly with the Vikings after one trade, and then with the Eagles after another trade. Yet, despite those stops, he “didn’t play for any of those teams in regular season action in 2025. ”

On performance markers, Howell’s NFL career line in the context includes a 62. 6% completion rate for 4, 139 passing yards, with 22 passing touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also has 54 rushing attempts for 300 yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Dak Prescott, Joe Milton, and the direction the Cowboys’ signing signals

The visible direction in the Cowboys’ quarterback plan, based on the context, centers on the backup role behind Dak Prescott. By adding Howell, Dallas is attaching itself to a quarterback with 18 career starts and a defined statistical profile, rather than a player whose role was previously listed as the No. 2. The context even frames Howell as “likely” a more proven backup option than Milton, a direct signal that the signing is not merely depth for depth’s sake.

Still, the context stops short of confirming any further transaction or any declared depth chart order. What it does show is a clear pressure point: the moment Howell is added, Milton’s position becomes the key unsettled variable. That creates a narrow but trackable trajectory — Dallas has acted to change its quarterback mix, and the next steps will determine whether that action is a simple reshuffle or the start of a bigger reordering.

If the Cowboys continue treating Howell as the primary No. 2 option… the most immediate effect would be a resolution of the “Joe Milton question” raised by Howell’s arrival. The context supports this as a plausible direction because it explicitly links the signing to Milton’s status and characterizes Howell as a more proven alternative. Under that continuation, the quarterback depth chart behind Prescott would be expected to reflect Howell’s added experience, including his 18 starts in Washington.

Should the Cowboys make a different decision about Joe Milton in the days ahead… the storyline would shift from a straightforward backup competition into a clearer roster decision with Howell’s signing as the catalyst. The context does not specify what form that decision might take, only that the questions are expected to be addressed soon. That uncertainty is central: it is the missing piece that will clarify whether Howell’s deal is meant to stabilize the backup role or simply broaden options behind Prescott.

The next confirmed milestone in the context is not a date or a scheduled event, but a near-term expectation: clarity on Joe Milton’s status “in the days ahead. ” What the context does not resolve is how the Cowboys will officially line up their depth chart behind Dak Prescott, or whether Howell’s signing leads directly to an additional quarterback move. For now, the signing itself is the concrete signal — and the follow-up decision on Milton will determine how far this reshaped backup picture goes.