Logic says the Dallas Cowboys have no intention of letting quarterback Dak Prescott go anytime soon. He's in a contract year, hitting a cap hit of about $59.4 million along the way, so an extension seemed all but certain for a long time.
There are questions about Dallas' playoff stagnation and eventual ceiling with Prescott under center. There may also be some hesitation on the part of the Jones family. But after a season in which Prescott received MVP votes, it's clear there are no better options in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Duck vs. Mack?
Sunday's news only confirmed the risk Dallas would take if it moved on from Prescott.
October 1, 2023. Arlington, Texas, USA. Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, 90, and defensive end Dorrance Armstrong, 92, meet New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, 10, during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Rushed.
Required Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots traded quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
Of course, Jones was the heir to Tom Brady's throne. Prescott and Brady aren't exactly on parallel courses, but the risks are still similar.
New England drafted Jones for two reasons. One is that he was the last first-round QB in his class, No. 15 overall, and he fit the mold of Bill Belichick as a quarterback. Jones was a pocket passer praised for his ability to manipulate NFL offenses and avoid turnovers. Things went well during the season.
But the floor Jones is said to have doesn't exist. Jones has slumped over the past few seasons because he didn't have enough talent and strong offensive minds around him. In 2023, his last year with the Patriots, only Bryce Young and Zach Wilson were eligible quarterbacks with fewer expected points added per play.
Simply put, even a passer who profiles as “safe” is just as safe as the supporting cast.
Want to make big changes in Dallas? Through that route, the Cowboys would likely draft Prescott's replacement (or groom Trey Lance), reset the cap clock, and add edge rusher Micah Parsons and receiver CeeDee Lamb. will be allowed to extend. But a look at first-round quarterbacks (by far the best candidate of the bunch) shows that even a first-round pick is a risky endeavor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has finally signed a big contract with his fourth NFL team. Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, was traded to Dallas for $1, but we still don't know for sure.
Every fan wants the team to acquire the most talented quarterback in the class when the time comes. Absent a trade, which would mean sacrificing the picks needed to surround a talented quarterback, Dallas at No. 24 would not draft such a touted prospect.
Will they replace Prescott and get the high level of play he left behind and the window of competitiveness his presence creates? That's more difficult than the path the obviously imperfect Cowboys are on. It would probably cost $60 million a year. But as “Duck vs. Mack” shows, that's the least of all evils.
