The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the strangest anomalies in the NFL since Dak Prescott took over as the starting QB in 2016.
Season after season, Prescott performs as well as the top quarterbacks in the NFL for the first 17 games, but chokes in the playoffs and the Cowboys have an early exit.
This year felt different.
Mike McCarthy took over play calling after parting ways with Kellen Moore and the offense exploded. Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb — who earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2023 — emerged as the top QB/WR in the NFL
Now Jerry Jones and the Cowboys brass find themselves in an all-too familiar position. With Prescott nearing the end of his last major contract extension, Dallas has to either sign him to a new long-term deal to help free cap space for 2024, or release him after June 1 which would save almost $30 million on next year’s cap number but the team would lose a massive chunk of change in dead money owed to the one-time hopeful franchise QB.
In a way, the Cowboys have painted themselves into a corner when it comes to Dak Prescott.. He has a no-trade clause in his deal, so he can’t necessarily be dealt. They owe him $59 million in 2024, which gives him a lot of leverage in negotiations—at worst, he can walk away from the table and the Cowboys will have to pay him that money. Again, a cut is a longshot here.
As of now, the two sides have publicly admitted they aren’t close to a contract extension for 2024 and are heading into the season with a mutual understanding Prescott will play out the final year of his deal and a decision will be made.
For the first time since he’s been the starting QB, Prescott himself sounds like a player who isn’t certain he will finish his career with the Cowboys and could join another team next season.
Dallas Cowboys Projected To Select Dak Prescott’s Replacement In First Round Of NFL Draft
Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws during the first quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
With the possibility of Prescott leaving Dallas after the 2024 campaign, Bleacher Report proposed a scenario where the Cowboys select his successor on Thursday in the first round of the NFL Draft.
In Bleacher Report’s latest round of draft predictions, Brad Gagnon believes the Dallas Cowboys will move on from Prescott. In a deep QB draft, Gagnon thinks Dallas could take a QB in the first round.
“I think Dallas is just about done with Dak Prescott, and in this case, it can apply the ultimate pressure. Recent actions also indicate the Cowboys already think they’re good enough to compete in 2024 or are ready to throw in the towel,” Gagnon wrote on April 22. “In either event, they don’t need to draft somebody who is sure to make an immediate impact.”
The Cowboys currently hold the No. 24 overall pick — and although this year’s draft class is stacked with quarterbacks — there could be slim pickings to land a franchise-caliber starter that late in the first round.
There are mixed reviews on former Washington QB Michael Penix, but if he fell to 24 it would seem like the perfect fit to eventually replace Prescott. Many experts believe Penix will hear his name called much sooner though, so would Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys consider trading up?
With so many holes to fill and almost no movement in free agency, it’s hard to envision Dallas handing over draft capital for a future QB when they appear to be in win-now mode.
Oregon QB Bo Nix may be the best option if the Cowboys truly want to select a QB in the first round.
Nix threw for 4508 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions in the Pac-12 last season and would come in with a ton of experience, with five years of college football under his belt as he began his career at Auburn.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
