Troy Aikman Expects Either Johnny Manziel Or RGIII To Be Cowboys’ Backup QB In 2016

Former Cowboys QB and current FOX Sports commentator Troy Aikman mentioned during an interview with SI.com that he expects either Johnny Manziel or Robert Griffin III to be the backup in Dallas next year.

“I believe, as I sit here today, either Johnny Manziel or Robert Griffin III will be in Dallas as a backup,” Aikman said.

The Cowboys have made it clear that upgrading at backup quarterback will be a priority for them this offseason after they struggled to wins game without Tony Romo in 2015.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard about Manziel and RGIII playing for the Cowboys.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports previously reported that sources close to RGIII and Manziel have said that both players would like to play for the Cowboys.

According to Robinson, both Manziel and RGII would “love to end up in Dallas” and there is a “real possibility (or hope)” that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones could make this happen.

Both players are expected to be available at some point in the offseason with Manziel either being available for trade or will end up being a roster cut. RGIII will be waived, so that Washington is no longer on the hook for his fifth-year option.

Sources have told Robinson that both believe Jones will have at least some level of interest in them should they be available. On top of that, the same sources mentioned that Manziel and Griffin have Dallas atop their preferred destinations.

Of course, the Cowboys could always look to the draft and bring in a long-term quarterback option to develop.

Manziel, 23, is in the second year of his four-year, $8,247,250 rookie contract that included $6,702,625 guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of $794,936 this season and another $1,169,872 in 2016.

This season, Manziel appeared in nine games and thrown for 1,500 yards while completing 57.8 percent of his passes to go along with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Manziel has also ran for 230 yards. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 31 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players.

Griffin, 25, was in the final year of his four-year, $21,119,098 rookie contract when Washington elected to pick up his fifth-year option worth $16.2 million several months ago.

However, they elected to bench him and make RGIII their third-string quarterback to prevent him from getting injured while allowing Kirk Cousins to show what he can do with the opportunity.

In 2014, Griffin appeared in nine games and threw for 1,694 yards while completing 68.7 percent of his passes to go along with four touchdowns and six interceptions.