The Dallas Cowboys recently signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension, but this deal does not necessarily lock the team into keeping him for the full duration. Prescott has missed significant time due to injuries in three of the last five seasons, leading fans to wonder if the Cowboys might eventually move on from him. With the large financial commitment tied to Prescott’s contract, the team may need to consider a scenario where they move on from him earlier than expected.
The key factor in this decision is Prescott’s mobility and performance. Even before a severe injury sidelined him, he had not appeared as agile as he once was. Given this, the Cowboys may look to the future and consider drafting a quarterback if one emerges as a potential franchise leader in the 2025 draft. This would follow the model of teams like the Green Bay Packers, who drafted Aaron Rodgers while still having Brett Favre, and later drafted Jordan Love despite having Rodgers.
Dallas could take a similar approach by drafting a quarterback in Round 1 if they believe he’s the future of the franchise, even if Prescott is still under contract. While Prescott’s deal has a no-trade clause, it would not prevent the Cowboys from eventually trading him when the financial terms become more favorable. This strategy allows the team to plan for a potential future without Prescott while still benefiting from his leadership in the short term.
Prescott’s current contract has some flexibility with void years, allowing the Cowboys to restructure his deal and push cap hits into future seasons. However, the team may choose not to alter this contract much if they want to eventually move on from Prescott. Eating the large cap hit in 2025 would allow the Cowboys to reset their salary cap and potentially save a significant amount of money in the following years, particularly in 2026 and 2027, when trading Prescott could yield financial benefits.
If the Cowboys are willing to absorb Prescott’s cap hit in 2025, they could focus on rebuilding the team, possibly trading him for multiple first-round picks. This would allow them to draft a new quarterback while continuing to field a competitive team with star players like CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs. The presence of Prescott, even if he’s no longer the long-term answer, would help keep the team relevant in the short term.
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys are currently projected to have the 9th overall pick, based on their 3-6 record. With various needs on both sides of the ball, including running back, wide receiver, defensive line, and linebacker, the Cowboys will have a tough decision ahead. However, they will also need to keep an eye on the quarterback position, as a potential future star may be available, and should not rule out selecting one if the right player is on
The board.
