As the Dallas Cowboys not-so-quietly wait to extend quarterback Dak Prescott, the likelihood of 2024 being his final season in Frisco continues to grow.
Owner Jerry Jones claims to be “all in,” but the roster is markedly worse on paper, even with corner Trevon Diggs returning from injury. Prescott will return to an offense without last year’s starting left tackle and center – the former being a future Hall of Famer – and there’s no guarantee the team upgrades at running back or receiver.
Putting Prescott in this position, choosing not to prioritize him despite his outsized impact, is reason enough for him to leave. So much of this conversation has been focused on what Dallas would do in this doomsday scenario. But if Prescott hits the open market, some other team is going to consider themselves very lucky.
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Oct 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hugs New England
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
On “First Things First,” Nick Wright suggests the New England Patriots could be where Prescott lands.
Currently, New England holds the No. 3 pick after another year of post-Tom Brady irrelevance. Mac Jones fell mightily after a strong rookie season and seemingly every other offensive experiment did not pan out. As such, they are widely expected to draft one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft – presumably one of UNC’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. They may pivot to blue-chip receiver prospect Marvin Harrison Jr., too, kicking the quarterback can down the road.
Wright has something else in mind.
“What if the Patriots traded the pick at No. 3, particularly if Drake Maye is there, because then people want it even more because people seem to love him,” Wright said. “Say he’s traded to Minnesota for 11 and 23 and something. Draft a tackle there … draft one of the mini-stud wide receivers in this class at 23, and have the plan be: we’re gonna sign Dak Prescott.”
New head coach Jerod Mayo may not be excited about entering the year with only Jacoby Brissett under center, but the veteran has proven to be capable. If Prescott is a target for 2025, Brissett represents a bridge quarterback to the highest degree and would likely avoid disaster. That may be enough to sell Mayo and the New England faithful on a run for Prescott.
“He’s an unrestricted free agent and the whole idea … could do a front-loaded deal,” Wright continued. “You’re building the culture. The Cowboys couldn’t stop you. It seems he’s going to be available, teams with cap space aren’t going to be at the front of the line for him.
“Could that be the Patriots’ plan? Trade down, build the team, install a culture and then install an older known quantity at quarterback next season.”
Unlike recent quarterback trades for the likes of Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Deshaun Watson, Prescott would presumably be hitting free agency, meaning the only thing headed Dallas’ way would be a compensatory draft pick. New England would have the cash to throw around and little long-term consequences to consider.
He would immediately return them to relevance in an AFC stocked to the brim with quarterbacks. Why, again, are the Cowboys content with letting a player like that walk?
