By Adeniyi Precious 
The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a make-or-break 2025 season, but they’ll be doing it without longtime backup quarterback Cooper Rush. After spending eight seasons in Dallas, Rush has landed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens worth up to $12.2 million, including $4.2 million guaranteed. He’ll now be backing up two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
So, why did Rush finally walk away from the Cowboys? Some think it might have something to do with how he was treated at the end of last season.
When Dak Prescott went down with a hamstring injury in Week 9, Rush stepped in as the starter. He played well enough, completing 61.3% of his passes and tossing 11 touchdowns to just four interceptions. But in Week 18, when he was just one game away from hitting a contract incentive worth $250,000, the Cowboys suddenly benched him for Trey Lance. That decision cost Rush a quarter-million dollars, and it’s safe to say he wasn’t too happy about it.
With Rush off to Baltimore and Lance still a free agent, the Cowboys now have only Prescott and journeyman Will Grier on the roster. Given Prescott’s injury history, Dallas might be looking to add another QB in the upcoming draft.
As for Rush, he’s moving on to a team that just made the AFC Championship Game. He may not start in Baltimore, but at least he got his payday.