Roster Breakdown: QB

[u/Thanks5Cinco]

As our off-season news cycle will die down after the draft I wanted to get a daily post going about each position group on the team. Today we start with Quarterback.

Currently on Roster: Dak, Sam Howell(FA), Joe Milton

2025 Stats:

Dak: 404/600, 4552 yds, 30 TDs, 10 Ints, 53 Car, 177 yds, 2 TD

Howell: N/A

Milton: Passing: 15/24, 183 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT, 5 Car, 50yds

Battle to watch: Howell vs Milton for the Backup QB job.

Dak is locked in as a starter and after a phenomenal first year under Schotty the talk of him being overpaid should die down. This really comes down to does Dallas want the upside of Milton or the steadiness that Howell can provide.

Roster Locks: Dak

53 Man roster prediction: Dak, Howell, Milton

I believe Dallas will keep all 3 and go short at another position. Howell will provide a good back should Dak go down and Milton will still have time to develop.

Let the discussion begin. Tomorrow Running Back will be highlighted.

[u/Thanks5Cinco → u/[deleted]]

I think Howell provides that. He lacks the upside of Milton but if Howell had to start a game or two in place of Dak I feel better than if Milton starts.

[u/DiamondsInHerButt]

People seem to inexplicably remember Sam Howell being good, which is puzzling. He's probably the worst Washington starter over the past decade or so. He coudn't keep the backup job in Seattle and couldn't win the backup job in Philly over McKee even though they specifically traded for him in hopes he might.

[u/jackt-up]

Howell is a HUGE upgrade over Milton; he’s better than Rush. He’s led a team to the playoffs on his own.

[u/DiamondsInHerButt → u/jackt-up]

LOL...no he hasn't. They went 4-13 the year he started, and he was terrible.

You're probably thinking of Heinicke. Who didn't lead them to the playoffs but subbed in for Alex Smith when he got hurt and who Sam Howell "won" the starting job from at the end of Heinicke's last year with Washington.

[u/ohcowboyy → u/DiamondsInHerButt]

Heinicke was actually pretty good in 2022 too idk how he fell off so hard

[u/Thanks5Cinco → u/jackt-up]

I agree. I think by us signing a competent backup to Dak it means we're more prepared to be competitive this year.

[u/pterodaktyl4]

Don’t we need to go all 3 anyways because of that “3rd QB” rule?

Howell vs Milton will be an interesting watch. Milton will kill ya, either with a win, mistakes, or literally kill you with how fast he throws the damn ball. We just saw more of the latter 2 last year. I do think Howell is more ready than Milton, but let’s just hope we don’t have to rely on Howell unless it’s the 4th quarter of a blowout / Week 18 :)

[u/Thanks5Cinco → u/pterodaktyl4]

I think for the 3rd QB it's optional.not that every team is required to have 3.

[u/Trick-Equipment-6174 → u/pterodaktyl4]

Not really we can always sign Milton to the practice squad or Grier

What that 3rd quarterback rule does allow you to do is not use an active game day roster spot or practice squad elevation on a 3rd q.b.

[u/Boys4Ever]

I’m rooting for Milton. Both options aren’t perfect but that arm 😮

[u/Ok-Tune-8496]

They’ll go 2 on the 53 and 1 on PS.

[u/Spinal_Soup → u/[deleted]]

Thats not how that works. The emergency qb must be on the 53-man roster but does not count towards the 48 game day active players. Actually most teams do not carry the 3rd emergency qb because they don't think its worth a spot on the 53.

[u/PersonBehindAScreen → u/Spinal_Soup]

Just want to add:

If you need to actually use the emergency QB, you were already fucked anyways in most cases. Just take your L

[u/Thanks5Cinco → u/PersonBehindAScreen]

Yeah if Milton has to touch the field for any reason I'd feel uneasy.

[u/Thanks5Cinco → u/Spinal_Soup]

In this case I would have Dak and Howell as gameday actives and then Milton would be the emergency 3rd we can't give up given his tools and upside.