Should Dallas Cowboys Trade for Saints' Derek Carr to Replace Dak Prescott?

With the possibility of Dak Prescott leaving in free agency next offseason, should the Dallas Cowboys considering trading for Derek Carr?

Nov 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

If this coming season proves to be the “last dance” for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys because the two sides can’t agree on a long-term contract extension, then what’s next? 

While we have frequently explained our belief that the Cowboys’ plan if they don’t re-sign Prescott would be to “blow up” the roster and start over in the form of a rebuild, a new suggestion from FanSided’s Christopher Kline proposes another route the Cowboys could take: the trade market. 

Instead of “blowing it up” and targeting a quarterback through the NFL Draft like potentially Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Kline suggests the Cowboys target current New Orleans Saints’ signal-caller Derek Carr.

“If Prescott bolts, this could be the Cowboys’ best chance to land a proven starter. Derek Carr has four Pro Bowl appearances on his resumé," Kline writes. "He’s a high-volume gunner, unafraid of bold throws and capable of manufacturing explosive plays.”

Nov 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Carr would be a cheaper option at quarterback than Prescott. Although despite his $12 million cap hit this season before it jumps to $51 million in 2025, which is still less than Prescott's, the proposed move still raises questions. 

If the Cowboys were to pursue a proven veteran quarterback starter that eventually is costly, what would be the rationale for parting ways with Prescott in the first place? 

If getting “cheaper” under center is the goal, then giving Trey Lance or Cooper Rush the chance to be the starter in 2025 would make more sense. (Of course, they have to sign them first as neither is under contract beyond this year..) This doesn’t even mention the option of potentially adding another quarterback through the draft. 

It seems that despite three straight 12-win regular seasons, with the most recent one coming in a year where Prescott finished as a finalist for the league’s MVP award, the Cowboys are hesitant to give him another market-setting extension due to their lack of playoff success. However, even with Prescott boasting just two wins in seven attempts in the postseason, albeit cheaper, Carr wouldn’t be an upgrade. 

The former Fresno State product is going into his 11th season in the league and has only managed to make the playoffs once. That lone time came in 2021 as the Las Vegas Raiders lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card.

One of the only possible benefits to trading for the 33-year-old would be the fact that he’d be under contract for 2025 and ‘26, giving the Cowboys potentially two more chances at trying to make a deep playoff run with their current roster. However, our argument remains the same: if the Cowboys want to continue taking swings at trying to win a Super Bowl with this roster, then why not have Prescott under center?