Sam Howell was signed by the Cowboys to compete for the backup quarterback spot behind Dak Prescott after the team moved on from Will Grier. Howell brings significant starting experience, having started 18 games in his career including all 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023, though he has only thrown 14 passes over the past two seasons. The system is familiar for Howell, as he noted his days at the University of North Carolina featured a similar setup to how the Cowboys play under head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The backup quarterback spot is officially up for grabs, with Howell competing against Joe Milton III.