As the free agency nears in the National Football League (NFL), the Dallas Cowboys may have found the backup quarterback they are searching for in the Washington Redskins' Colt McCoy. 

McCoy signed a one-year deal with the Redskins before the 2015 season, and it expires this year which will make him an unrestricted free agent. 

The 29-year-old quarterback experienced how to be a starter and a backup in his young NFL career, which saw him play for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and the Redskins in six seasons. 

In McCoy's NFL career, he played in a total of 35 regular season games, registering 508 completions for 5,586 yards and 26 touchdowns, also throwing 23 interceptions. 

According to Todd Archer of ESPN, McCoy is an "interesting option" for the Cowboys this free agency period.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones already said late last December that the team's search for a backup for franchise quarterback Tony Romo is a priority. 

The Cowboys, who ruled the National Football Conference (NFC) East in the 2014 season, flunked last season and ended with a 4–12 record.

A major factor to this are the injuries experienced along the way, especially to Romo and star receiver Dez Bryant. 

Romo injured his collarbone twice last season and the Cowboys had three replacements (Brandon Weeden, Kellen Moore, and Matt Cassel) that all failed to deliver success. 

The campaign ended terribly for Dallas who were early favorites ahead of the 2015 season. 

If ever the Cowboys target McCoy during the free agency period and successfully signs him, they will have a quality backup for Romo who can also start if the latter sustains another serious health setback. 

However, it will be a hard task since McCoy is second in the Redskins' depth chart after starter Kirk Cousins. 

Washington will be the one without a backup if McCoy signs with a different team, since third string passer Robert Griffin III is expected to leave the capital this offseason.