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If the Dallas Cowboys Acquire Shedeur Sanders Should They Make Deion Head Coach?

The question arises, if the Dallas Cowboys can draft Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 draft, should they seek to hire Deion Sanders as their head coach? There are a lot of reasons as to why a “package deal” might, or might not be a good/bad thing for the Cowboys…and the Sanders.

Dallas Cowboys, Shedeur Sanders, Deion Sanders
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders hugs his son, Shedeur Sanders, before facing Texas Tech in a Big 12 football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Should Dallas decide to throw its hat-in-the-ring for the Shedeur sweepstakes, and then go after Deion for the head coach position, “timing” will be a critical issue. Travis Hunter should go in the 2025 NFL Draft as #1. The next pick will most likely; be Cam Ward at #2, followed by Sanders at #3.

No Guarantee the Dallas Cowboys Will Get a Chance to Draft Shedeur Sanders

Initially, it’s easy to fantasize about the Dallas Cowboys draft possibilities regarding Shedeur.  The Cowboys, (3-7), are certainly a candidate to legitimately tank the rest of their season and thereby be awarded a higher draft position, given Dak Prescott is now on season ending IR. But , at least as of the time of this article, the Cowboys have absolutely no guarantee they can draft Shedeur. Currently, Dallas is on the draft “outside-looking-in”. 

Right now, if the draft was held today, the Cowboys would have the 9th pick in the draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8), Tennessee Titans (2-8), Cleveland Browns (2-8), New York Giants (2-8), Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), Carolina Panthers (2-8), New England Patriots (3-8), and New York Jets (3-8) ALL pick in the 2025 draft… ahead of Dallas. 

The odds of Dallas trading up to get a valuable commodity, like Shedeur Sanders, are slim to none. With the exception of the Patriots, the other 8 teams listed above could all use a franchise quarterback. As such, Shedeur should be gone by the 3rd round and certainly no later than the 5th round. Dallas would have to trade up to get a second, third, fourth or fifth pick. 

Colorado Buffaloes Shedeur Sanders
Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) pitches the ball in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

It’s unlikely Dallas will have the ability to trade up. Aside from their currently projected 9th round pick, the Cowboys currently have 2nd round, 3rd round, 5th round, 6th round and 7th round (from Carolina) picks. While while Shedeur, may slide to the #5 overall pick, if he continues on his current track, that is highly unlikely.

The Cowboys could trade away their 2nd and 3rd round picks to move up to the #3 overall pick, but that will depend on which team holds the #3 pick after the 2024 regular season concludes. Odds are, the #3 picking team will be one that needs a quarterback. Certainly no team in Dallas’ division will likely engage in a trade that will benefit the Cowboys.

If They Can’t Draft Him, How Could the Dallas Cowboys Acquire Shedeur Sanders?

If the Cowboys can’t draft Shedeur, how could he still become a Dallas Cowboy in 2025. Simple, Shedeur, with the help of Deion, can pull a “Manning”…an Eli Manning to be precise. When Manning was picked by the then, San Diego Chargers as the first overall draft pick he refused to play for them. The defection was led by his father, Archie Manning. When Eli refused to sign the Chargers contract, he was subsequently traded to the New York Giants in exchange for the 4th overall pick, Phillip Rivers.

Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Archie Manning
Peyton and Eli Manning with father Archie Manning (AP images).

There is further precedent for this type of draft pick errant behavior. John Elway, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 1983, refused to play for them, the Ravens traded him to Denver in exchange for defensive tackle, Chris Hinton, Denvers first round pick.

When being interviewed on Fox Sports Speak, Deion Sanders stated if his son, Shedeur, was confronted with a situation deemed not advantageous to his son, he, (Deion), would get involved on Shedeur’s behalf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHqCR4DVcuk

While he didn’t come right out and state it, there was certainly a hint that Deion might orchestrate a “Manning” trade to ensure his son gets to a team where he has the best chance of success. Such an action by Deion could very well lead to Dallas acquiring Shedeur

To Participate in the Sanders’ Sweepstakes The Dallas Cowboys Must Fire Mike McCarthy at The End of the Regular Season and Trade Zak Prescott

Back on November 10th, we learned from Jerry Jones that Mike McCarthy’s job was safe for the remainder of the season.  Earlier this year it was speculated that it was unlikely Jerry Jones would fire Mike McCarthy at the end of this season. This rational was based on Jerry’s need to have a head coach that would put up with Jerry and “Jerry’s World”, and all that it entails.

Mike McCarthy, Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Owner Jerry Jones have disappointed many this offseason.

So what’s changed that Jerry Jones is now likely to give McCarthy the axe come January 6, 2025?  Well, first, the Cowboys are 3-7 with Dak Prescott out for the rest of the season. Second, given his teams predicament, it should be noted, lately, Jerry Jones seems to be like a kid in the candy store when he talks about Deion Sanders. He has publicly stated he always admired Deion’s ability as a player and he has recently stated he respects Deion’s coaching abilities. 

As for Deion’s future, in a recent interview on Fox Sports’ Speak, Michael Irving insinuated he had inside information that Deion was interested “100 percent” in becoming Dallas’ head coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqJu03usm1k

Given the speculated mutual interest between Jones and Deion and probable interest Dallas should have in acquiring Sedeur Sedeur it’s now high probability Dallas separates itself from McCarthy come 2025,

Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones
Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders (right) talks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Then there is Dak Prescott. Throughout his career, Prescott has been injury prone.  Dak is getting old…physically. Since the 2019 season Dak has missed games suffering, a strained right shoulder, a dislocation and fracture of his right ankle, a severe calf strain and a broken right thumb.

This season, a hamstring tear, requiring surgery has placed him on season ending IR. Of the three tendons connecting the hamstring to the hip, two of Zak’s were completely torn off. Zak is now 31 years old and injuries, like hamstring surgery, will take longer to rehabilitate.

Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott, Dak Prescott Injury
Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Grady Jarrett (97) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

On top of his physical injury downside, there is the matter of Zak’s new contract. Prescott’s signed a contract extension on September 8, 2024 for 4 yrears,$240 million, 231 million guaranteed. If the Cowboys can aquire Shedeur Sanders, they may want to cut their losses while Prescott is still young enough to be valuable to another team.

But Deion has Stated Publicly He Loves Coaching College Football at Colorado, Why Would He Leave?

Deion also stated in that Speak interview, that he loves coaching college football at Colorado. He enjoys coaching and mentoring young men in football and life and Colorado is a beautiful place from which to do exactly that. He went on to state he has no desire to leave College football at Colorado.

But, unlike pro football, in which every man is a “playing corporation” making “business decisions” to avoid harm to their careers. In college players have not been as jaded, at least as of the date of this article. While, today, they can make some endorsement money, most college players still primarily play for the love of the game. There primary goal is, still, to get a college education.

Colorado Buffaloes, Deion Sanders
Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks the sidelines in the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

As such, college players look to their coach for guidance and mentoring. For the most part, they are still learning as both players and adults. As such, head college coaches, like Deion have a significant amount of influence and guidance over their players. As a college football coach, as Deion stated, he also has control both his coaching staff and support personnel. As Deion stated, in the Pros, you usually don’t have the same kind of control over the situation and players as you do in college.

So why would Deion want to leave college coaching? One reason is “The Portal!”. In the old days college football coaches were able to take the late spring and early summer off and spend time with the family relaxing. Now-a-days, because of “The Portal” college  coaches are obliged to keep recruiting after the regular recruiting season. Every coach constantly looks at what players are available in “The Portal”.

Every coach has to constantly keep re-recruiting their own players in order to keep them from entering “The Portal” and moving on to another college team. The way it’s set up right now, “The Portal” is a nightmare for college football coaches. 

Colorado football
Sep 2, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders talks to line judge Bret bascule in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

There is also retirement issues. Colleges don’t pay as much as the pros. Depending on the college, there usually is no pension plan available for coaches as there is available in the NFL. While the NFL has coach/owner issues that can arise, colleges have “booster/donor” issues that can drive a coach nuts. Finally, the NFL has no NCAA to make a coaches life miserable

If Dallas gets Shedeur Sanders, Deion Might Naturally Want to Jump to The Cowboys

Of course, as part of the deal, Jerry Jones might insist Deion comes on board as Dallas’ new head coach. Visa/versa as part of any Shedeur deal inside or outside the draft, Deion Sanders might insist on his coming on board as the new Dallas Cowboys head coach. It would only be natural that If his son Shedeur somehow goes to the Dallas Cowboys, Deion might want to jump to coaching the pros, specifically the Cowboys.

Colorado Buffaloes, Shedeur Sanders
Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) drops back to pass during the first half against the Baylor Bears at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

But, in an interview on 11/21/24, Jerry Jones appeared to play down Deion as a prospective NFL coach, appearing to insinuate that Deion would be better off staying at the college coaching level. Today Jones said in an interview:

“I think we’re way ahead of ourselves relative to when and if he decides to go into coaching in the NFL. One of his greatest skills, that he really brings to college, is that he almost has no peer as far as being a recruiter. Kids want to come play for him. And he has a way of selling that. That is one skill, that recruiting skill, that is not a huge prerequisite for NFL coaches. One of his greatest values is in that area of putting the team together and getting great talent to come play for him there at Colorado.All of that would go into your mind. But make no mistake about it, he’s one of the top people, young and old, that I’ve been around in the NFL.” (Jerry Jones interview by Bleacher Report, Joseph Zucker)

Of course, in giving that interview, Jerry Jones might be goading Sanders to prove himself and jump ship to the Cowboy. Or he could be trying to get Deion Sanders as the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on the cheap.

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About George Dawe

George Dawe is originally from Topsfield, Massachusetts. George went to high School at Saint John's Prep, in Danvers, MA and Northfield-Mt. Hermon lettering in football and track, graduating from both Schools. George continued on to DePauw University, in Greencastle, IN, on a jouyrnalism scholarship writing about, and lettering in, football and track. (Mr. Dawe is a member of DePauw's Athletic Hall of Fame ,inducted November 30,. 2016 as a member of the 1981 DePauw Tigers Football Team.) In the spring and summer of 1982, George attended the New England Patriots Football Club training camp, only to be injured, ending his football career, but not his love for both the game and writing about it! Subsequently, Mr Dawe attended and graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, CA. He practiced for 32 years, before retiring. During his legal career, George coached at the Pop Warner, High School and Junior College levels. George's legal background honed his writing skills, and George's football background gave him the love for writing about sports, especially football!

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