Lamar Jackson: Watch out. Cooper Rush is coming to town.
Kidding aside, the Ravens quarterback and two-time MVP has a new backup for the 2025 season. After spending the first eight years of his career with the Cowboys, Rush found a new home in free agency, inking a two-year deal with Baltimore on Sunday.
Rush started 14 games during his time with the Cowboys, going 9-5 as a starter and recording solid numbers. If Jackson were to miss time, Rush would provide a different offensive look. The Ravens have typically relied on mobile backups such as Robert Griffin III and Tyler Huntley to mirror Jackson’s play style, keeping the offense consistent. Rush is more of a pocket passer, which could mark the first time Baltimore starts a non-mobile quarterback since Joe Flacco.
Here is a full breakdown of Rush’s new deal, the Ravens updated QB depth chart, and more.
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Cooper Rush contract details
Full terms were not disclosed, but it has been reported it is a two-year contract that has a maximum value of $12.2 million, including $4.2 million guaranteed. He won the backup job in Dallas in 2021 and has held the role for the past three seasons. In 2023, he signed a two-year deal with the Cowboys, opting not to test free agency.
Cooper Rush’s new two-year deal with the Ravens includes $4.2 million guaranteed. https://t.co/MKqCUFdcdw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2025
Between Jackson, Rush, and Baltimore’s other QBs under contract, the Ravens owe over $51.55 million to quarterbacks in 2025, nearly a fifth of their cap allocations.
Ravens QB depth chart
While Baltimore is technically paying four quarterbacks, only three are listed on its roster. Malik Cunningham, entering his second season out of Louisville, is now listed as a wide receiver on ESPN’s official depth chart.
Jackson, a two-time MVP and definitively one of the best players in the NFL, is the starter. But with a mobile quarterback like Jackson, there is always a high risk of injury. Jackson is lean, barely over 205 pounds, but has been relatively durable. Still, it is important to know who is backing up No. 8.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lamar Jackson |
| 2 | Cooper Rush |
| 3 | Devin Leary |
Rush is expected to be the backup for Baltimore. He has way more experience than the 2024 sixth-round pick Devin Leary. The former Kentucky quarterback did not appear in a game last season and may not even be on the 2025 53-man roster. Rush, however, will certainly be there as Jackson’s primary backup next season.
Cooper Rush career stats
Rush has appeared in 38 career games, but only 14 as a starter. He saw significant playing time in 2022 and 2024 when Dak Prescott was injured. Here are the 31-year-old QB’s career stats.
| Season | Games started | Yards | TDs | Int | Cmp% | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.3% | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 422 | 3 | 1 | 63.8% | 1-0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1,051 | 5 | 3 | 58.0% | 4-1 |
| 2023 | 0 | 144 | 0 | 1 | 75.0% | — |
| 2024 | 8 | 1,844 | 12 | 5 | 60.7% | 4-4 |
Cooper Rush career earnings
Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Rush has made $9,249,429. He signed a three-year, $1.67 million deal with the Cowboys in 2017, a one-year $1.25 extension in 2020, a two-year, $1.95 million deal in 2021, and a two-year, $5 million deal in 2023.
If Rush’s contract ends up being worth the full amount, Rush will more than double his career earnings.
Cowboys QB depth chart
While Prescott is clearly the starter in Dallas, the backup job is up for grabs. Prescott has dealt with different injuries in the past few seasons, so it will be important for the Cowboys to add to their depth chart. After letting Trey Lance and Rush walk in free agency, Dallas only has two quarterbacks on its roster. Expect them to add another before the start of the 2024-2025 season.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dak Prescott |
| 2 | Will Grier |
Grier was drafted in the third round by the Panthers in 2019. The West Virginia product spent two seasons in Carolina, one season in Philadelphia and the past two years on the Cowboys, floating between the practice squad and active roster.
