Dak Prescott Trade? Did Washington Commanders Really Call Cowboys?

The headlines that have Washington "inquiring about trades for 42 different NFL QBs''? Tap the brakes.

FRISCO - When Washington Commanders boss Ron Rivera says his club is in search of a superstar upgrade at quarterback, he is apparently not exaggerating.

Unless he, or GM Martin Mayhew, or the D.C. media, is.

Because if the story as first reported and still re-reported - if accurate - would mean Rivera and Mayhew have phoned the Dallas Cowboys about a Dak Prescott trade.

And, with a chuckle, a source here inside The Star tells CowboysSI.com that such a call has not been received.

So what's going on here?

We go to Kansas City, where the Chiefs won’t be trading Patrick Mahomes, obviously, but according to the headlines that have Washington "inquiring about trades for 42 different NFL QBs,'' it seems Washington did call about the idea … just in case.

But we insist the brakes be tapped here.

First, here's what GM Mayhew actually said about the Commanders search:

Mahomes

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Mayhew

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Jimmy G

Mahomes, Prescott

"We feel we have canvassed the league effectively," Mayhew said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "We've spoken to every club that has a quarterback who might be available."

Second, John Keim most recently writes, "One source told ESPN that the Commanders had compiled an initial lengthy list of around 40 quarterbacks to at least discuss or investigate, including those in college.''

That's a different message than the one Keim offered on March 1, a day before, when he wrote, "Washington has reached out to every team to inquire about a quarterback's availability and the cost.''

That second paragraph from the respected Keim is a shift away from what he'd written earlier in the week.

Did they "compile a list''?

Or did they "reach out to every team''?

Big difference.

And now along come the second-hand aggregated reports that now insist, "The Commanders called every NFL team about a trade for their quarterback – including the Chiefs and Mahomes.''

Which would also mean "the Cowboys and Prescott.''

That's not what Mayhew said. At all.

And from a Dallas perspective, that's not what happened. At all.

And by the time Keim had revised his early-week claim, that's not what ESPN is saying now, either.

Review the logical facts again: a) In the end, ESPN is actually talking about the 40 QBs include college prospects, not just NFL guys. b) The group only includes those who "might be available'' - not "every QB.'' c) The research did not include 40 phone calls, but rather, 40 QBs to "discuss or investigate.''

There is no solid indication there that 31 teams have been contacted, or that, as is being written, "Washington has reached out to every team to inquire about a quarterback’s availability and the cost.''

So while upon first glance it could've been assumed that Washington placed a call to the Chiefs to ask about Mahomes. ... and while it indicates Washington must've called the Cowboys about Prescott? Called the Los Angeles Chargers about Justin Herbert? Called the Jacksonville Jaguars about Trevor Lawrence? ...

Prescott

Wilson, Rodgers, Watson

Heinicke

Nonsense.

More factually, in terms of headline-grabbing, it means Washington has "discussed or investigated'' available QBs. "Available,'' like ... Aaron Rodgers (staying in Green Bay?), Russell Wilson (playing nice with the Seahawks?) and Deshaun Watson (with a door just closed.) And Jimmy G. And Teddy Bridgewater. And more.

But it does not mean the Commanders wasted their time and their dime actually making "42'' trade proposals. At all. ... though we suppose it's possible Washington called Dallas about a trade for Cooper Rush. We thought about posing that question to our Cowboys source, but put off by the chuckles, we thought better of it.