Cowboys trim QB depth, make room for Emari Demercado after waiving Joe Milton III

The Dallas Cowboys moved quickly on Monday, waiving backup quarterback Joe Milton III to make space on the 53-man roster for running back Emari Demercado. The timing, coming on the first day of waiver claims, immediately drew attention because it involved the depth chart behind Dak Prescott, the long-term centerpiece of Dallas’ offense.

For the Cowboys, the transaction is primarily about roster construction. By adding Demercado to the active group, Dallas needed room for another playmaking option in the backfield, while tightening the quarterback room. Milton III, who had been positioned as a secondary option behind Prescott, was the player moved off the roster instead of a player at another position.

Milton’s placement on waivers means Dallas is treating the quarterback plan as something that can be adjusted without keeping him on the active roster. If another team claims him, the quarterback would avoid being assigned to the Cowboys’ offseason path and instead continue his career with a new organization. If he clears waivers, the Cowboys will decide on his next destination within the limits of roster and waiver rules, leaving Dallas’ immediate focus on its current depth needs.

Demercado’s promotion reflects how the Cowboys are thinking about offensive versatility. In training camp and roster decisions, teams often prioritize options who can create matchup problems, add value in the running game, and contribute in pass protection or receiving. With Prescott anchored as the starter, Dallas’ priority becomes ensuring it has stable quarterback coverage while still carrying the personnel it wants to support the rest of the offensive plan.

The decision also has practical implications for how the Cowboys will manage their backups. With Milton removed from the 53-man picture, Dallas’ immediate backup responsibility shifts to the remaining quarterbacks on the roster. That can affect game-week preparation, including who takes reps with the scout-team offense and who is ready to run the offense if the starter is unavailable.

The waiver timeline matters for both sides. A claim can come quickly, and the first day is often where teams looking for depth are most active. For Dallas, that means the roster will remain fluid at least until the waiver window runs its course, even if the Cowboys have already made their own internal decisions about the team they want to travel with and deploy.

What to watch next is whether Milton III is claimed and, if not, where he lands relative to Dallas’ roster strategy. For the Cowboys, the central question is how their quarterback depth looks after this move and whether the Demercado addition translates into expanded usage in preseason and early regular-season preparation.