In keeping quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys have taken a chance in trying to hold onto its best stars for the future. Jerry Jones has chosen to sit on his hands and has even publicly stated the plan is to let Cowboys franchise quarterback Dak Prescott finish out the remaining year on his current contract, rather than signing Prescott to a new extension after one of his best NFL seasons where he was leading the MVP conversation for most of the year.
Despite his well-known postseason troubles, Prescott ranks No. 6 among quarterbacks in the NFL going into 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. If he hits the open market after this season, at least five teams—if not more—will be vying to pay him the highest salary of any quarterback in the league.
Jones and the Dallas Cowboys brass are taking a significant gamble, and even while some insiders think the team still intends to sign Prescott to a long-term contract, the quarterback now has the last say and shouldn’t feel pressured to agree. With 4,516 passing yards (third most), 36 touchdowns (first most), nine interceptions, and a QBR of 72.7 (second in the NFL), Prescott led the NFL in several important categories in 2023.
In the regular season, he had the second-best passing grade (89.8), behind only Tua Tagovailoa. Under duress, his 73.5 passing grade was the highest. He had the highest number of big-time throws in the NFL during the regular season—37—and the lowest turnover-worthy play rate—2.0%—among quarterbacks with at least 400 dropbacks. Prescott now has complete control over the huge decision that Jerry Jones and the Dallas decision-makers must make. Prescott’s asking price has reportedly increased to $60 million annually as a result of Trevor Lawrence just signing a contract that pays him the same amount of money as Joe Burrow.
In a blockbuster trade proposal, the Dallas Cowboys trade Dak Prescott to the Seattle Seahawks.
Although most of the components are present in this instance, quarterbacks don’t usually relocate in the middle of the season. Now, a deadline blockbuster involving Prescott could happen if a contender suffered a serious injury to its quarterback, or if a team like Las Vegas or Seattle finds itself in the running while having a subpar quarterback. It doesn’t say how much the Dallas Cowboys would have to pay Prescott to become their new starting quarterback, but a package including Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf along with a future first-round pick would make sense if the Seahawks really made a push for him.
