Could Dak Prescott Leave the Cowboys? Ex-QB Suggests Massive Trade

Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys’ franchise quarterback, has been a central figure for the team since taking over the starting job in 2016. He has guided the Cowboys to playoff appearances, earned Pro Bowl honors, and established himself as one of the league’s most recognizable faces. However, in recent seasons, questions have arisen about his future with the Cowboys. Amidst ongoing playoff disappointments and a growing sense that the team’s window for Super Bowl contention may be closing, whispers of a potential breakup between Prescott and Dallas have surfaced. In this context, a former NFL quarterback recently suggested that the Cowboys could make a drastic move—trading Dak Prescott in a massive deal. Could the Cowboys seriously part ways with Prescott? What would such a trade entail, and what would it mean for both the franchise and Prescott’s career?

For much of his tenure, Prescott has been one of the NFL’s most dependable quarterbacks. He took over in 2016 for an injured Tony Romo and immediately made an impact, leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record in his rookie year. Prescott showed poise, accuracy, and the ability to lead the team in clutch moments. His success continued over the next few seasons, even though the Cowboys could not get past the divisional round of the playoffs. The 2022 season brought renewed hope for the Cowboys after an impressive campaign. Prescott was fully healthy after dealing with injuries in 2020, and he showed flashes of brilliance during the regular season. Yet, despite the talent surrounding him and the potential of the team, Dallas still failed to live up to expectations, leading to further speculation about the quarterback’s future.

Despite the consistent individual success of Prescott, some have questioned whether the Cowboys have the right mix of personnel to make a Super Bowl run. In a league where championship windows are fleeting, the Cowboys, under Prescott’s leadership, have struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on them. This has led some to wonder whether Prescott is the quarterback who can take the Cowboys back to the promised land. While Prescott has undeniably put up impressive numbers, his performance in critical playoff games has often been scrutinized. He has thrown multiple interceptions in key moments and failed to produce the necessary plays when his team needed him most.

In this context, a former NFL quarterback recently sparked a conversation that sent shockwaves through the NFL community. The unnamed ex-QB suggested that the Cowboys should consider trading Dak Prescott and pursuing a new direction at the position. The ex-quarterback did not mince words, arguing that Prescott may not have the mental fortitude or consistency to lead Dallas to a Super Bowl title. Furthermore, they contended that the Cowboys could maximize their roster’s potential by bringing in a more dynamic or game-changing signal-caller.

The idea of trading Prescott is not something that many Cowboys fans or analysts have considered. After all, Prescott is coming off a solid season and has remained a model of consistency throughout his career. However, the potential for a trade is fueled by several factors. First, the Cowboys have built a roster with championship-caliber players. The team’s defense, led by star players such as Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, is one of the most dominant in the league. Dallas has a formidable offensive line, a talented running back in Tony Pollard, and receiving weapons like CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. The window to win a Super Bowl is clearly open, and the pressure is mounting for Dallas to make a run at the title. If they feel that Prescott is not the player who can lead them to the top, a trade might seem like a viable option.

Second, Prescott’s contract situation complicates things. He signed a massive four-year, $160 million contract in 2021, and while his salary cap hit is manageable for the time being, it becomes significantly higher in the later years of the deal. In 2024, Prescott’s cap hit jumps to over $50 million. With the Cowboys already facing a number of financial challenges, including the looming decisions on key players such as Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, the team may be looking for ways to free up cap space. Moving Prescott could provide the financial flexibility needed to re-sign other key pieces of the team and potentially pursue a higher-tier quarterback or other positions of need.

The idea of trading Prescott raises several important questions: Could the Cowboys find a suitable replacement? Would they be able to acquire a quarterback who can match or exceed Prescott’s production? The answer to these questions largely depends on what Dallas could receive in return for Prescott. In an ideal world, the Cowboys would be able to package Prescott in a deal that lands them a top-tier quarterback, perhaps one with more playoff success or the potential to take the team to the next level. However, finding a quarterback with that level of talent—and securing the proper trade compensation—would not be easy. The quarterback market is volatile, and it’s unclear whether there is an elite signal-caller available via trade.

There are several potential trade destinations that could make sense for the Cowboys if they do indeed decide to part ways with Prescott. One such possibility is the Indianapolis Colts, who have been in search of a franchise quarterback since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement in 2019. Despite spending multiple years trying to find a solution, the Colts have yet to establish stability at the position. Prescott could provide them with the steady hand they need to return to playoff contention. Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders could be a potential suitor for Prescott. After a disappointing 2023 season, the Raiders are looking to rebuild, and bringing in a proven quarterback like Prescott could help stabilize the offense and elevate the team’s chances for success.

The idea of trading Prescott also raises the possibility of the Cowboys targeting a rookie quarterback in the upcoming draft. Several highly touted quarterbacks, such as Caleb Williams of USC and Drake Maye of North Carolina, are expected to be available in the 2025 draft. The Cowboys could theoretically trade Prescott to a quarterback-needy team in exchange for high draft picks, allowing them to secure a young signal-caller with high upside. This strategy would require Dallas to gamble on the development of a rookie quarterback, but it could pay off in the long term if they can identify the right player.

Regardless of the path the Cowboys ultimately choose, the decision to part ways with Prescott would be a seismic one for the organization. Prescott has been the face of the franchise for nearly a decade, and his departure would mark the end of an era. It would also raise significant questions about the team’s future direction. While Prescott’s individual accomplishments are undeniable, the Cowboys would need to ensure that any potential trade brings back enough value to make the move worthwhile.

From Prescott’s perspective, being traded would be a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, it would signal the end of his tenure with the Cowboys, where he has been beloved by fans and teammates alike. On the other hand, it could offer him a fresh start with a new organization—one that may better suit his skills and provide him with the opportunity to win a championship. If Prescott were traded, he would join a new team with a sense of urgency to prove himself once again as a championship-caliber quarterback. For Prescott, the pressure to succeed would only intensify, but it could also reinvigorate his career and open up new opportunities.

As of now, it remains uncertain whether the Cowboys will indeed trade Prescott. The team has not indicated any plans to move on from their franchise quarterback, and Prescott’s leadership remains a key asset for the team’s future. However, with the pressure mounting and the looming contract situation, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Dallas could pursue a dramatic change at the quarterback position. If the Cowboys believe that Prescott is not the quarterback who can take them to the promised land, a massive trade could be in the cards. Until then, all eyes will remain on Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys as they navigate what could be a pivotal offseason for the future of the franchise.

In the end, whether Prescott stays or goes will have lasting implications for both the Cowboys and the quarterback himself. If the Cowboys part ways with Prescott, it will mark the end of one chapter in the franchise’s history and the beginning of a new era. The decision will be a delicate one, requiring careful evaluation of the team’s current roster, future potential, and the direction they want to take in the years to come. The future of Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys is anything but certain, and with the ex-QB’s bold trade suggestion hanging in the air, the coming months could prove to be a pivotal moment in the story of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.