Sam Howell

Howell holds the clear QB2 job in Dallas behind an entrenched starter, with essentially no path to regular-season snaps absent injury to the player ahead of him.

Howell signed a one-year deal with Dallas in March 2026, so he hits free agency again after this season with no guarantee of a return or of landing a better opportunity elsewhere.

The only in-house QB competition was waived off the roster, so Howell is now the sole primary backup and would inherit the full offense, including a strong supporting cast of pass-catchers, if the starter misses time.