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The Dallas Cowboys have met with QB Haynes King ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have made a couple of moves at quarterback already this offseason, but when the draft hits in April, Haynes King feels like a name to monitor.

The Cowboys signed veteran Sam Howell on March 10, cutting ties with Will Grier in the process. It’ll be Howell vs. Joe Milton III for the backup job, but Dallas could still look to add a developmental quarterback to stash on the practice squad.

And, based on a March 14 report from Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, King is a player the Cowboys have taken a close look at during the pre-draft process.

“Quarterback Haynes King was on the money, and one NFC East team described him as ‘dialed in’ throughout the entire workout,” Pauline wrote, adding:

“For those keeping score, he hit on 52 of 54 passes and was very accurate. Over the course of the past two days, King met with the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings. King has been lauded for his leadership and toughness by scouts.”

A Look at Haynes King’s College Days

GettyHaynes King of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Could the Dallas Cowboys draft him late?

There’s quite a bit to like when examinin King’s time playing in college. He began his collegiate career at Texas A&M, where injuries and inconsistency kept him from fully settling in.

He transferred to Georgia Tech in 2023 after two years with the Aggies, and became one of the ACC’s most productive dual-threat quarterbacks. He finished with 2,967 yards passing and 953 yards rushing in 2025, also scoring 29 total touchdowns. King set the school’s single-season record for total offense last year, also getting named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year for his 2025 campaign.

His earlier Georgia Tech production was solid, too. In 2023, King threw for 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns while adding 737 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs. In 2024, he completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,114 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions, while rushing for 587 yards and 11 scores.

He’s not in the top tier of QBs in the upcoming draft, but King is the kind of QB teams might bet on late. He ran an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the combine, so his speed will be attractive. At 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, he’s a decent size, and both his arm talent and toughness are traits some teams might take a chance on. Will the Cowboys be one of them?

Why the Dallas Cowboys Could Take QB Haynes King in the 2026 NFL Draft

Howell just signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys, and he gives Dallas a veteran backup with starting experience, which is always an attractive trait.

Milton is a little different. He’s still a tools-based project, and King would have to impress in a big way to get Dallas to move off Milton and onto him. Milton has flashed his arm talent, especially in the preseason finale against Atlanta, when he threw for 132 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score. In four appearances during the regular season, Milton went 15-of-24 for 183 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Considering this, King could still fit in Dallas. Howell looks like the safer No. 2 behind Dak Prescott for now. Milton has potential and is still developing, but that doesn’t rule out another swing on a young quarterback with mobility and some upside. We’ll see how the draft goes.

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