The Dallas Cowboys are facing a very large issue that many teams face when trying to keep a franchise quarterback while also trying to sign veteran star talent around him: Salary caps. Due to salary cap issues, the Cowboys are facing three options:
Negotiate a very creative contract with Dak Prescott
Cut veteran players and rely on younger players
Trade Dak Prescott and bring in a new quarterback on a lower contract
For most teams with a quarterback who just went 12-5 and threw for over 4,500 yards in a season, option three wouldn’t even be on the table. For the Dallas Cowboys, everything is on the table.Ezoic
Fatigue of Mediocrity
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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was uncertain about McCarthy’s future before settling with him for 2024. Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
A study was once done where many guests were invited to attend a Broadway show. The cast did a remarkable job; however, they made one intentional mistake. Guests were then asked after the show what stood out the most, and the majority responded with the mishap. Despite the 90-minute show showcasing the best actors and actresses who otherwise had a perfect show, the damage was done in one moment, and for the viewers, that is what stood out.
For Dak Prescott, his mistake was before this past season when he led the NFL in interceptions. The other mistake is the inability to win a Super Bowl or even make a Super Bowl. For fans, nothing else matters. For them, the result is the same and has been for the past eight years.
In other words, they are ready, or at least more willing to move on than any other team in the league would be following a 12-5 season.
Salary Cap Issues
Justin Fields, Atlanta Falcons
Jan 7, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) throws a pass during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys are facing a situation where Dak Prescott is demanding and, quite honestly, deserves a huge payday. An article put out by FanSided explained it pretty well:
With Prescott’s nearly $60 million cap hit looming, the Cowboys have some important decisions to make. They can get clever with his contract, which has one year remaining to help alleviate a chunk of that cap hit. They could also extend him in. It’s the simplest way to stay relatively competitive, though it will come at a price. They cannot trade him without his approval. They cannot tag him. In all likelihood, Dak Prescott is going to be the highest-paid quarterback in football.
The question becomes, do you pay Dak and essentially put all the eggs into one basket? If Dak is re-signed, the Cowboys will simply be forced to go with younger and less expensive talent. But this won’t appease Dallas fans unless the Cowboys win or at least play in the Super Bowl in 2025.
Dak Prescott for Justin Fields + Picks Makes Sense for Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott
Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field after losing in the 2024 NFC wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
If the Cowboys trade Dak Prescott, the Bears are the perfect team to trade for. Prescott is well worth the first overall pick, plus Justin Fields for the Chicago Bears, and for the Cowboys it makes sense. This is what each team would get:
Cowboys get to draft a new quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft who will be on a contract a fraction the size of Dak Prescott. If that draft pick doesn’t work out, they have at least a decent backup in Justin Fields and two valuable tradable players going into 2025 if they both don’t work out. A new look would also cool off the fanbase a bit and allow a new player to get used to playing in the league.
The Bears get a guaranteed great quarterback. There is no taking a risk in the NFL Draft, and they have plenty of cap space to pay Prescott.
In other words, this would be a win-win trade for both teams.
Conclusion
Dak Prescott CeeDee Lamb CeeDee Lamb’s mom
Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) take the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys probably need some kind of change to get the momentum around the fanbase really going in the right direction. Again, by all means a 12-5 regular season record is great. Still, for a fanbase that demands and believes that the roster is good enough to win Super Bowls, their patience will run out if they don’t reach that goal next season, especially if they are paying Dak Prescott $60 million.
