Ben
Dinucci.
Ben
Dinucci.
James Madison
"Dallas drafted James Madison's efficient, mobile quarterback at No. 231, and injuries pushed him into one rough NFL start before a spring league career followed."Pre-draft read
DiNucci was a spread quarterback at James Madison after starting his career at Pitt, a 6-2, 215-pounder who ran an up-tempo, RPO-heavy offense. His primary trait was accuracy in the short and intermediate game: he completed 70.9 percent of his passes in 2019, delivering quick, catchable throws on time and taking what defenses gave him.
His secondary trait was mobility, with 569 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2019 as a runner on designed keepers and scrambles. His arm strength was average, limiting his vertical game. His athletic ceiling was modest, and his signature was the efficiency and poise that carried James Madison to the FCS title game.
Rhythm-based spread or West Coast offense built on quick, short throws, run-pass options and designed quarterback movement.
Year 1: third-string quarterback and scout team starter. Ceiling: backup quarterback who can manage a game in spot duty.
Vertical, deep-drop offense that asks its quarterback to drive the ball downfield from the pocket on every down.
His accuracy and mobility fit best in a quick-game system.
James Madison QB Ben DiNucci 2019 Highlights
His CAA Offensive Player of the Year season.
Ben DiNucci Pittsburgh/James Madison Highlights || 2016-2019
Career reel from Pitt and James Madison.
Ben DiNucci COOKS on opening XFL drive & Josh Gordon scores
His 2023 XFL season with Seattle.
DiNucci projected as a smart, efficient FCS quarterback whose average arm made him a developmental backup. Evaluators liked his accuracy, decision-making and athleticism, but questioned whether his arm strength and FCS-level production would translate to the NFL.
He started six games at Pitt in 2017 before transferring to James Madison, where he threw 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2018. In 2019 he broke out, throwing for 3,441 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for seven more scores, earning CAA Offensive Player of the Year and leading the Dukes to the FCS championship game. The flags were his arm strength, his 2018 turnover problems and the level of competition.
Most boards viewed him as a late-round or priority free agent quarterback. Dallas took him at No. 231 as a developmental third quarterback, valuing his accuracy and mobility in a backup role. The fit made sense behind an established starter, where a smart, mobile passer could run the scout team and learn the system without pressure to play early.
- 01
Short-game accuracy
Completed 70.9 percent of his passes in 2019, delivering quick, catchable throws on time in a rhythm-based spread offense.
- 02
Mobility
Rushed for 569 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019, extending plays and adding a real threat on designed keepers.
- 03
Ball security growth
Cut his interceptions from 12 in 2018 to six in 2019 while throwing 13 more touchdowns in three more games.
- 04
Big-game production
Earned CAA Offensive Player of the Year and led James Madison to the FCS championship game in 2019.
- 05
Experience
Started at both the FBS and FCS levels, including six starts at Pitt, giving him exposure to two offenses and levels of play.
- 01
Average arm strength
Lacked the velocity to drive the ball downfield and into tight windows, limiting his vertical and outside throws.
- 02
Level of competition
His best season came against FCS defenses, leaving questions about how his game would hold up against NFL speed.
- 03
Turnover history
Threw 12 interceptions in 2018 and five in 2017 at Pitt, showing risky decisions under pressure before his breakout.
- 04
Undersized frame
At 6-2 and 215 pounds he lacked ideal size to absorb hits and see over the line from the pocket at the next level.
| Yr | Team | G | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh | 10 | 88 | 158 | 1091 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | James Madison | 13 | 211 | 309 | 2275 | 16 | 12 |
| 2019 | James Madison | 16 | 268 | 378 | 3441 | 29 | 6 |
| Career | — | 41 | 570 | 854 | 6823 | 51 | 25 |
Seasons from USA Today Sports and The Football Database, which match exactly and sum to 570 completions, 854 attempts, 6,823 yards, 51 touchdowns and 25 interceptions over 41 games. He redshirted at Pitt in 2015.
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
The realized outcome: a third quarterback with one NFL start and a spring league career.
Undersized, mobile backup who carved out a long NFL career as a spot starter.
Accurate FCS quarterback whose arm limitations kept him from sticking in the NFL.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
DiNucci made Dallas' roster as a rookie in 2020 and was pressed into action after injuries to Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton. He appeared in three games and made one start, a loss at Philadelphia, finishing his NFL regular-season career with 23 completions on 43 attempts for 219 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. He led the XFL in passing yards for the Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023 and spent time with several NFL teams afterward, mostly in offseason and practice squad roles.
In hindsight the pick returned modest value for a No. 231 selection. His accuracy and poise kept him in the league as a backup, but the average arm evaluators flagged showed up in his lone start, when he struggled to push the ball downfield under pressure. His spring league success proved he could play the position at a high level outside the NFL, and his later move into broadcasting reflected the football intelligence scouts praised.