It might be ludicrous to even consider. Foolish. Some might say it’s outright silly. Almost as crazy as turning down $30 million a year to make you the fifth-highest paid QB when you’re not even a top-10 player at your position. But, it might be time for the Cowboys to move on from Dak Prescott.
It’s a move that would certainly be scrutinized, but it’s also one that could push the Cowboys closer to a Super Bowl than signing him would.
Dak’s Value
It’s no secret that the Cowboys have returned to a winning pedigree since Prescott arrived in Dallas. With a record of 32-16 in his first three seasons (33-18 if you include playoffs), Prescott has proved his worth as a winner. But, the question I have is: how much of that winning do we give Dak credit for?
In that three-year time frame, you could easily give as much credit to Ezekiel Elliot, who came into the league the same year. In fact, during those three seasons Elliot has missed six games. The team went 3-3 in those games, in what were some of Dak’s best and worst games of his career. Twice he threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, both in wins against the Giants. Those 300-yard games make up 40% of the 300-yard games in Dak’s career. Unfortunately, the other four games weren’t as kind to the former fourth-round pick.
All of those games occurred during Elliot’s suspension in 2017, in a stretch that saw the Cowboys go 1-3. Dak averaged just 150.5 yards per game in that span, never breaking the 200-yard mark. Additionally, he only threw two TDs to five interceptions. Both touchdowns coming in the teams lone win. This was probably the most Presoctt was ever questioned in his career, but it was swept under the rug when Elliot came back and the team performed as it had been. This again leads me to pose the question.
Is this thing really built around Dak? I don’t see how it could be.
Paying a Quarterback…
Devoting $30 million (now he’s asking for $40 million apparently) annually to one player is certainly a huge commitment. However, t’s the price that has to be paid for the most important position in all of sports. At times, they weigh more than just the price tag.
Last year, the six highest paid QBs all failed to make the playoffs. Every team’s situation is different, but you have to recognize how difficult it is to build a championship roster around such a hefty contract. A majority of legitimate contenders feature QBs either on rookie contracts (see Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff) or those who take friendlier pay cuts (see Drew Brees and Tom Brady). Those four QBs played in conference championship games last year, a place that Dak Prescott hasn’t reached.
Not to mention that Dak isn’t near the level of any of those guys. Hell, he’s barely on the level of those six QBs who missed the playoffs.
Outside of Jimmy Garoppolo (who’s been hurt), all of these players have put together better seasons than Dak’s best. These are guys who, at the time of being paid, had to be locked up because the team wasn’t going anywhere without them. Since this tweet Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, and Carson Wentz have been paid more. These are guys who are proven winners and have been parts of Super Bowl-level teams.
…Versus Paying Everyone Else
Dak Prescott is nowhere near the most valuable player of the Cowboys. This is a team that, for the past three seasons, has been built around the run game, and they’ve just recently developed an elite defense. There are guys who are part of both of those facets that are going to need to be paid. Not to mention Amari Cooper, who’s looking to be one of the highest paid WRs.
Ezekiel Elliot is holding out of camp and should be a higher priority. Eventually, guys like Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Byron Jones are going to want top money. I know it’s the Dallas Cowboys, “America’s Team,” but at some point, there isn’t going to be enough money to go around.
The Cowboys are going to have to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves a question. “Are we a playoff team because we have a top-three offensive line, top-three RB, and top-10 defense? Or, is it because of our QB who’s been 11th in yards and 13th in TDs since he entered the league.” I think when it’s put that way the choice is clear. QBs get paid after they win Super Bowls. Eli Manning did it. Joe Flacco did it. Russell Wilson did it. And, Dak Prescott hasn’t proved himself to be worth anywhere near $40 million.
Find an affordable QB, either through a trade or the draft, and keep the championship-caliber players in town a little longer.
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