The work of retooling the roster doesn’t stop with the NFL Draft. Free agency continues and the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly visiting with Quarterback Jeff Driskel today. The 28-year-old passer has been with four teams since entering the league in 2016 as a 6th-round pick.
Driskel was drafted by the 49ers but didn’t make final cuts. The Bengals claimed Driskel and worked with him for three seasons, then waived him at the start of 2019. Driskel spent that season with the Lions and then was with the Broncos for 2020.
Always in a backup capacity, Driskel has appeared in 15 games and started nine over his career thus far. He has a 58.6% completion percentage, 79.4 passer rating, and throw 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Cowboys flew in free agent QB Jeff Driskel tonight for a Friday visit, source said. A good chance Driskel signs, becomes favorite to serve as Dak Prescott’s primary backup in 2021.
Driskel has nine career NFL starts. Garrett Gilbert, Ben DiNucci and Cooper Rush combine for two.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 7, 2021
While there’s nothing noteworthy about his passing, Driskel brings exceptional athleticism as a quarterback. He was the fastest QB at the 2016 Scouting Combine with a 4.56 time in the 40-yard dash. That put him in the same company as Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and Colin Kaepernick in the NFL’s signature speed test.
That speed has translated to 53 carries for 309 yards and three touchdowns in Driskel’s NFL career thus far.
Jeff may be on the Cowboys’ radar because of how he performed against them in 2019 while playing for Detroit. While the Lions ultimately lost that game, Driskel started and had one of the best days of his career with 209 passing yards and two touchdowns, plus 53 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
One of the best things that Driskel would bring to the Cowboys’ QB room is real-game experience; something sorely lacking in the current backup options. Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci only have one start each and Cooper Rush has none.
If Dallas does sign Driskel then we will likely see Rush get released. Dallas had to release six players earlier this week to meet the NFL’s maximum limit for 90-man offseason rosters.
