Dak vs. Mac: What Can Cowboys & Prescott Learn from Patriots Bad QB Trade?

The Dallas Cowboys are bound to give quarterback Dak Prescott a massive extension. The New England Patriots are a model for why Prescott's stay is so important.

Logic says the Dallas Cowboys aren’t going to let quarterback Dak Prescott go anytime soon. He’s entering a contract year but with an approximately $59.4 million cap hit on the way, an extension has long seemed all but certain.

There are questions about Dallas’ playoff stagnation and their ultimate ceiling with Prescott under center. Maybe there is even hesitation on the part of the Joneses. But after a season in which Prescott garnered MVP votes, it’s clear there’s no better alternative in free agency or the NFL Draft.

Dak vs. Mac? 

Sunday’s news only affirmed the risk Dallas would be taking by hypothetically moving off of Prescott.

Oct 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) rush New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots traded quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.

Jones, of course, was the heir to Tom Brady’s throne. While Prescott and Brady aren’t exactly running parallel courses, the risk remains similar.

New England drafted Jones for two reasons: he was the last first-round quarterback in his class – taken 15th overall – and he fit the mold Bill Belichick had for his quarterback. Jones was a pocket passer lauded for his ability to operate an NFL offense and avoid turnovers. For a season, it worked.

However, the floor Jones was said to have doesn’t exist. Without ample talent around him and a strong cast of offensive minds, Jones faltered over the course of recent seasons. In 2023, his last with the Patriots, the only qualified quarterbacks with fewer expected points added per play were Bryce Young and Zach Wilson.

Simply put, even passers that profile as “safe” are only as safe as their supporting cast.

Want a big change in Dallas? Via that route, the Cowboys would presumably draft Prescott’s replacement (or groom Trey Lance), resetting the cap clock and allowing extensions for edge rusher Micah Parsons and receiver CeeDee Lamb. But a look at first-round quarterbacks – by far the best bets of the bunch – shows that even the first pick is a risky endeavor.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield finally netted a large contract on his fourth NFL team. Former third-overall pick Lance was traded to Dallas for pennies on the dollar and remains no sure thing.

Every fan would love for their team to take the best, most talented quarterback in the class when the time comes. Without a trade – sacrificing the picks necessary to surround said quarterback with talent – Dallas at No. 24 isn’t drafting such a highly touted prospect.

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Replacing Prescott, with as much high-level play he has left to offer and the competitive window his presence creates? That is more challenging than the one admittedly imperfect path forward for the Cowboys. It likely costs $60 million per year. But as "Dak vs. Mac'' demonstrates, it's the least of all the evils.