NFL Rumors: Mark Sanchez being shopped to Dallas Cowboys

Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) leaves the field following the win over the Los Angeles Rams at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) leaves the field following the win over the Los Angeles Rams at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Sanchez lost the Denver Broncos starting quarterback job to Trevor Siemian. Could Sanchez end up with the Dallas Cowboys via a preseason trade?

Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak announced on Monday that his team’s starting quarterback for Week 1 versus the Carolina Panthers will be Trevor Siemian.

Siemian beat out veteran Mark Sanchez and rookie Paxton Lynch in 2016 NFL preseason. The Broncos like their first-round pick in Lynch, but may look to part ways with Sanchez either by releasing him outright or via trade.

According to NFL Media’s Jane Slater, “Denver has contacted Dallas about a trade for Mark Sanchez. The Cowboys are not interested in trade if it involves current salary.” Sanchez is scheduled to make $4.5 million this upcoming season.

Dallas will be without starting quarterback Tony Romo for 6-10 weeks. He broke a vertebra in his back during Thursday’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys lost Romo’s primary backup Kellen Moore earlier in the preseason to a broken leg.

The Cowboys do like the two other quarterbacks on their roster in presumed Week 1 starter Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers. Both have impressed in the 2016 NFL preseason, but the Cowboys will certainly want a veteran backing up Prescott over Showers for at least the first few weeks of the year.

Dallas had its eye on other backup candidates like Nick Foles of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Glennon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and most notably Josh McCown of the Cleveland Browns.

Related Story: 5 reasons Dak Prescott can lead Dallas Cowboys to NFC Playoffs.

With the 2016 NFL regular season less than two weeks away, could the Cowboys be in the market for Sanchez? Potentially, but he’ll have to take a pay cut to come play in Dallas backing up Prescott for a few weeks.