Grier will join the Cowboys’ 90-man offseason roster and compete for a role in the quarterback room, alongside incumbent backup Joe Milton III. The signing signals Dallas isn’t fully sold on letting Milton continue in the top backup role without competition.
Milton, the Cowboys’ $4.2 million backup, has had an inconsistent season and his spot behind Prescott appears tenuous amid uneven production in limited opportunities. He outplayed Grier in the preseason but struggled in several appearances when Prescott was sidelined, most notably in the season finale against the Giants.
Milton’s performance included a second-half showing against the Giants in which he completed seven of 13 passes (53.8%), for 73 yards with a 38.3 passer rating. Those numbers illustrate why Dallas is comfortable adding a veteran alternative to the room.
The re-signing of Grier, who spent the 2025 season on Dallas’s practice squad as an “emergency” quarterback, emphasizes that the Cowboys are prioritizing quarterback depth and stability behind Prescott as they plan for 2026.
Overall, the move brings a familiar, experienced option into a crowded QB room and could influence how Dallas approaches the Prescott era, signaling ongoing evaluation of the backup role beyond Milton.
