An aggressive passer at quarterback might find great success with the Dallas Cowboys.
In his seven-round mock draft, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports projected that the Cowboys would pick Michael Pratt of Tulane University with the 87th overall choice in the third round.
The Potential Addition of Michael Pratt to the Cowboys
Pratt, a 22-year-old quarterback with a highly productive career as a dual-threat, played for the Green Wave for all four of his seasons. In just the 2022 season, the 6-foot-3 quarterback passed for 27 touchdown passes and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground.
In addition to 28 rushing touchdowns, Pratt recorded 90 touchdown passes throughout his time as a college player.
Pratt isn’t a particularly quick quarterback—he declined to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine—but he can finish runs, as shown by his ability to rush the football and enter the end zone.
Derrik Klassen of Bleacher Report characterizes Pratt as an “aggressive passer” with the capacity to complete runs as a short-yardage runner or red zone danger.
Klassen claims that Pratt’s risk tolerance is consistent with that mindset. He passes with aggression. Pratt constantly searches for chances to throw the ball downfield if the defense’s pre-snap look permits it. Pratt is also a rather competent athlete. Pratt’s game has some power and balance, which helps him as a planned runner in the red zone or on short yardage plays even though he isn’t particularly quick.
Comparing current Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush to Michael Pratt
Pratt is projected by Trapasso to be selected in the third round, but Klassen believes that as a high-level developmental prospect, the Tulane alum will be selected in the fifth round. Additionally, he likens Pratt to Cooper Rush, a former backup quarterback for the Cowboys.
Rush, who attended Central Michigan, a non-power five university like Tulane, as an undrafted free agent in 2017, joined the Cowboys and has been a backup ever since. Throughout his career, Rush has started six games and is 5-1 overall.
In his own scouting report, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton notes that Pratt makes up for his lack of exceptional arm power with catchable throws. Pratt is also brought up by him as a possible Dak Prescott substitute, given that the franchise quarterback is approaching the final year of his Dallas contract.
The 22-year-old has excellent touch when placing the ball, making up for his lack of arm power, according to Moton. “He throws a catchable ball most of the time, allowing his pass-catchers an opportunity to make plays following catches.
Although the Cowboys are certain that they intend to re-sign Prescott, the possibility that this will be his last season in Dallas exists because he hasn’t signed a contract extension.
It could be time to change course, especially considering that in Prescott’s eight years as the starting quarterback, the Cowboys have not advanced past the divisional round.
Actually, Adam Schefter of ESPN recently declared the Cowboys to be a “sleeper” team when it comes to quarterback draft picks.
Instead of selecting Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix in the first round, the Cowboys could use a mid-round pick to choose a passer like Pratt, adding insurance for Prescott while also avoiding a quarterback issue.
