Dallas isn’t this creative and doesn’t think like this. We know. It doesn’t mean that we have to be limited in our thoughts; especially not in November.
In late August, the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott agreed to a new four-year extension, but it does not mean the two sides are tethered to each other for that long. Prescott is now going to be out for the remainder of 2022, marking the third time in five seasons he’s missed a significant chunk of action due to injury. Coming from a world where the last franchise quarterback’s back gave out from carrying the franchise for a decade, Dallas fans are well prepared (overly sensitive?) to face a reality where the team may bail on their current situation despite the monetary aspect of things.
Even before the severe, surgery-requiring hamstring injury was suffered, Prescott did not look anywhere near as mobile as even the 2023 version of himself. It is not anti-Prescott to say that if Dallas’ front office scouts the landscape of incoming rookies and identifies a QB they feel is franchise leader-ish, and that player is available to them, that they cannot bring him into the fold.
The Green Bay Packers will forever be seen as the example to doing things in this way. Despite having Brett Favre, they drafted Aaron Rodgers. Despite having Rodgers they drafted Jordan Love. Both decisions took time to unfold but they’ve allowed that org to have a top QB for the last three decades.
So if Dallas sees a QB in Round 1, they should be comfortable in drafting him and waiting until Prescott’s deal gets to a point it can be financially acceptable to move on from him in a trade. Fans shouldn’t worry about a no-trade clause; it’s honestly just a right of refusal that keeps Prescott from landing in NFL Siberia against his will. In this exercise, we’ll game that out with the 2025 draft.
Here’s a Week 12, four-round mock conducted on Pro Football Focus.
Prescott’s contract specifics
Dallas signed Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension beyond what was already on the books for 2024. The extension has four void years at the end, allowing Dallas to restructure each season and push cap hit off into the future. As currently constructed, Prescott will count $89 million against the 2025 cap. If the Cowboys want to escape the deal sooner than later, they will not touch this very much, if at all. The other option is to move up to $36 million of cap hit into the future.
If Dallas wants to go the Green Bay route, not touching that cap space and eating the big hit as they reboot the roster makes sense. Prescott’s presence on the team gives Dallas a certain level of credibility to keep them in the public eye.
Even with the prospect of a lost season, Dallas will be able to sell a competitive season based on the stars that are locked in for 2025. Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland is enough to market successfully. And if there’s a budding quarterback controversy to stoke the flames? Even better.
Eating Prescott’s big cap hit in 2025 allows the Cowboys to see some cap savings in 2026 and a ton in 2027, if they decide to roll with a draft pick in Year 2 or Year 3. Dallas would save $6 million in space if they traded Prescott in 2026, and if he started the next two seasons they’d see $28 million in savings in 2027.
Allowing Prescott to rebuild his value in 2025, trading him for multiple first-round picks and having a new franchise signal caller already in tow seems like a viable path forward for the next head coach.
Cowboys pick at No. 9
The current draft order projection for Week 12 is that the Cowboys’ 3-6 record places them 9th in the first-round draft order.
Cowboys Team Needs
Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New Orleans 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas has needs all over the place, and as always will have to balance their free agent moves… ahaha just kidding. They’ll need to balance their availability projections. If they need to fill two positions pretty equally, and one is top heavy and the other is deep, it’s probably a better decision to grab the prospect from the top-heavy position.
Dallas is in need of a running back, wideout, defensive end, and defensive tackle. They could also potentially need safety help, depending on if they give the youngsters a chance to show their worth, along with linebacker depth. And as explained above, QB shouldn’t be ruled out if one who they think is special is staring them in the face.
Top 8 picks ahead of Dallas
BOULDER, COLORADO – APRIL 27: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes warms-up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
- Tennessee Titans: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- Cleveland Browns: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
- Las Vegas Raiders: QB Cam Ward, Miami
- New York Giants: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- New England Patriots: DE Abdul Carter, Penn State
- New York Jets: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- Carolina Panthers: Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia
Trade Down: Cincinnati Bengals
Oct 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Bengals helmet on the sidelines in the game of the Indianapolis Colts against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Bengals called and offered a really good deal for Dallas to move down three spots, adding a third-round pick in exchange for one of the Cowboys’ fifth-round compensatory picks.
Cowboys receive 1.12, 3.76 for 1.9, 5.171
Trade Down: Denver Broncos
Oct 28, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
This one is a little riskier, moving down seven spots. But the clear goal now is to stockpile picks on the first two days of the draft and walk away with a quarterback that will allow the team to walk from Prescott’s contracts over the next two years.
Once again, the Broncos offered a solid compensation package.
Cowboys receive 1.19, 2.51, Broncos receive 1.12, 5.145.
Cowboys Mock Draft 4.0 Complete Haul
Apr 27, 2024; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during a spring game event at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
1.19: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
2.41: DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi
2.51: WR Kyren Lacy, LSU
3.73: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
3.76: HB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
