Jerry Jones shares Cowboys intention to draft quarterback in 2023 NFL Draft

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones fired up the headline maker, a.k.a. his mouth, on Wednesday at the Senior Bowl. Jones revealed that the team intends to draft a quarterback this year during the 2023 NFL Draft, according to Calvin Watkins. He also admitted that he believes it’s been a mistake not to do so every year.

The Cowboys have only drafted two quarterbacks in the seven years since they took Dak Prescott in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. They also haven’t drafted a quarterback in a round higher than the fifth since Prescott.

In 2018, Dallas drafted Mike White with a fifth-round pick out of Western Kentucky. White has played in eight games so far in his NFL career, all with the Jets.

The most recent quarterback drafted by the Cowboys was Ben DiNucci in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. Dallas waved DiNucci in August of 2022 after he played in three games, completing 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards.

Cowboys committed to Dak Prescott

Although Jones committed to drafting a quarterback this year, it has little to do with Prescott’s status with the team. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on Wednesday that the team is considering an extension for the former Mississippi State star. An extension would help alleviate the cap issues Dallas has ahead of a busy free agency season.

Jones and the Cowboys will owe $31 million in guaranteed money with a cap hit of $49.1 million. Aside from extending the star quarterback, they could opt to restructure his contract, potentially freeing up $22 million in cap space for 2023.

As for drafting a quarterback in 2023, the Cowboys have plenty of opportunity to do so. They could have draft picks in each of the seven rounds, depending on the compensatory picks. Their first pick overall will come at No. 26.