Patrik Walker

While the Cowboys weren't exactly quiet during free agency this spring, there is still plenty of work to do for this team that finished 7-10 in 2024.

Not only did they add some key players in free agency and via trades, but they also re-signed some of the core depth as well.

Still, there are other guys on this team that must take that next step in order for the Cowboys to be successful in 2025.

Today, we'll continue the Next Man Up series with quarterback Will Grier.

• Name: Will Grier

• Position: Quarterback

• Experience: 6 years

• Games Played/Starts: 2/2

• Years Left on Contract: 1

• How Acquired: Re-signed 2024

• Key Stat: (vs. LVR, preseason 2023) 358 yards from scrimmage, 4 TDs

The Past: Grier is no stranger to trying to scratch and claw his way up the ladder. A former third-round pick of the Panthers in 2019, he found his way, initially, to the Cowboys two seasons later when he was claimed off of waivers and, for the next two-plus seasons, battled against a combination of Ben DiNucci and Cooper Rush to try and obtain the QB2 role behind Dak Prescott; but a trade to acquire Trey Lance in August 2023 became writing on the wall at the time for the West Virginia product then waived before spending time with the Bengals, Patriots, Chargers and Eagles before the Cowboys came a'calling once again.

The Present: Re-signed in November due to injury to Prescott and an unsettled quarterback position behind him, Grier was still unable to convince Mike McCarthy to activate him for any of the remaining contests. He remained on the practice squad as insurance, but things are wildly changed this offseason as both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance have departed in free agency, to the Ravens and the (CFL) Roughriders, respectively, leaving only Grier as Prescott's backup as the calendar turns to April.

The Future: There's a strong sentiment within the front office that the Cowboys will add competition to the position for Grier to contend with, be it by a free agency signing, a draft pick and/or possibly even a trade of some sort. No matter how they do it, Grier will need to be ready to prove himself early and throughout the summer, and what he did against the Raiders in his then-final action for the Cowboys in the emotional preseason game in 2023, that preceded his departure, is the version of himself that will need to step to the forefront in order to win the battle for QB2 in Dallas one that is officially wide open for the first time in years.