Ex-Jets GM Explains Why Dallas Cowboys Should Draft Big-Name QB

Even with Dak Prescott under contract, the former Jets general manager believes Dallas should be hunting for a QB in the draft later this month.

Mar 3, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; ESPN NFL Front Office insider analyst Mike Tannenbaum during the / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With franchise quarterback Dak Prescott entering the final season of his four-year, $160 million contract that he signed prior to 2021, former Jets general manager and current ESPN NFL analyst Mike Tannenbaum believes that the Dallas Cowboys should be in the quarterback market in the draft later this month.

"[Prescott]'s gonna graduate and have a robust market, justifiably so. If I'm Dallas, I have to be prepared for him to go, and I have to look at the draft," Tannenbaum said on Friday morning's episode of Get Up. "

The production team at ESPN showed a graphic on the screen that demonstrated the rookie contract projection of $3.6 million for the No. 24 pick that Dallas owns relative to the amount of money that Prescott could be owed. For Tannenbaum, the cost-benefit of drafting a rookie quarterback and having him take over in the future is worth considering.

"If you go to next year, and Dak's extension is somewhere between $55 and 60 million per year, what I would say to you guys is that I would rather have Dak Prescott over let's say Michael Penix. But is [Dak] $52 million per year better than Michael Penix? Knowing that we have CeeDee Lamb, knowing that we have Micah Parsons amongst others."

.@RealTannenbaum says the Cowboys should draft a QB 👀

Who could you see heading to Dallas? pic.twitter.com/mUp5HcCVko

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 12, 2024

Tannenbaum went on to say that teams considering drafting a quarterback at the bottom of the first round are doing so due to salary cap ramifications. That's why it's a draft strategy worth considering for the Cowboys, according to Tannenbaum.

The future of Prescott with the Cowboys is unknown, as Dallas has a significant decision to make. If the franchise believes that Prescott can win a Super Bowl under center, he's worth the expensive investment. If not, perhaps the team should consider Tannenbaum's suggestion of moving forward with a rookie quarterback following this upcoming season.