Dallas Cowboys fans need any excuse to distract themselves from the Mike McCarthy saga. It is now day four of the offseason and Jerry Jones still has not made a decision on McCarthy.
Fortunately, other teams may force Jones’ hand.
The Chicago Bears requested to interview McCarthy for their head coach opening. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported McCarthy would have a strong chance to get the Bears job, which isn’t a surprise given his track record of success and ties to the NFC North.
The Cowboys denied the request even though Jones previously said McCarthy could talk with any team. That seems to hint McCarthy will be back. If Dallas didn’t want McCarthy to return, odds are they would let him seek employment elsewhere.
Despite not knowing whom will coach the team in 2025, the Cowboys have started building their roster for next season. The team announced this week that it extended the contract of quarterback Will Grier.
Cowboys extend QB Will Grier with Trey Lance, Cooper Rush headed for free agency
January contract moves normally don’t draw much of a reaction, but Grier is now the only other quarterback not named Dak Prescott who is signed through 2025. That is significant as both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are slated to become free agents.
A former third-round pick of the Panthers, Grier served as Dallas’ third-string QB in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was a popular figure in the locker room but got kicked to the curb after the Cowboys acquired Lance from the 49ers.
Grier returned to Dallas’ practice squad in November after Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury. He signed to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s season finale, serving as QB2 behind Lance, though he didn’t play any snaps.
It’s silly to think that Grier will backup Prescott next season, but extending his contract gives the Cowboys needed insurance with Lance and Rush headed to free agency.
Rush has been a lifetime Cowboy, but after a 4-4 stint filling in for Prescott he may be a hot commodity this offseason for teams in need of a veteran backup. He kept the season afloat and may ask for more money than what Dallas is willing to pay.
Lance, meanwhile, proved in Sunday’s start that he is still a work-in progress. The Cowboys may still like his upside, but they may allow him to test the open market before circling back when his price drops.
Something tells us they aren’t ready to punt on their fourth-round investment in Lance. Extending Grier does not preclude them from re-signing the former No. 3 overall pick, but it is certainly notable given the uncertainty of the QB room as we sit here today.
