Cowboys reveals stars to replace Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback room – and its future – involved a great deal of moving parts. So we can understand how from the outside looking in, those “moving parts” look like complications.

But from inside The Star? The “moving parts” involving Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush and Trey Lance actually amounts to a smooth operation and the likelihood of a clear plan. Our 10 answers to your questions about the Cowboys’ plan …

1) The Cowboys long-standing plan to forge a contract extension with Prescott before the March 2024 start of the NFL business year has remained intact all along. 

Have the Cowboys examined and re-examined the concept from all angles, making sure it’s right? Yes.

Is the fact that they didn’t do it sooner concerning? Sure.

But the $59 million cap hit for 2024 was never going to be left alone. It helps that Dak has experienced an MVP-level season. But he would’ve had to have been a disastrous flop this year for the plan to change.

2) The Cowboys late-summer trade for Lance in which they gave up a fourth-round pick for a top-notch (but so-far failed) prospect was never about “leverage” against Dak Prescott as it involved Dak’s job or his coming contract.

Lance simply isn’t at the level at which he can be used as a “bargaining chip.” He is not considered in any eway “the starting QB of the future.” That misreported narrative was/is not only false – it is terribly, terribly stupid.

3) There is nothing “odd” about that trade. Lance will either work out as a benefit or he won’t. Giving up a fourth-round pick is a smart throw of a dark trying to hit a valuable bullseye.

4) It’s been written that “this has been a wasted year in Lance’s development.” Nobody inside this building feels that way. Lance is still just 23, and is being tutored by the likes of head coach Mike McCarthy, coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Prescott and Rush themselves.

“I’m with Trey every day,” McCarthy said. “I see him in the meetings. … He’s very comfortable, very confident. … I love his personality, love his work ethic, obviously very talented. He’s been a great fit.”

This is actually a wonderful opportunity for Lance – though obviously he’d prefer to be playing.

5) It’s been written that Dallas is “going to have to make a choice about whether to keep Lance around or not.” Indeed, according to the contract website Spotrac, Lance is very much on the “roster bubble” for the Cowboys in 2024.

That is false. He is an asset – if not as a third-string QB (assuming he doesn’t beat out Rush next summer) than in a trade … as long as Dallas gets more than a fourth-round pick back for him.

6) Dallas might “pay him to leave.” This comes from NFL contract expert Mike Ginnitti, who wrote, “All of Trey Lance’s $5.3 million salary for 2024 is fully guaranteed. It’s hard to imagine he’s tradeable (again), so Dallas either makes him an above average paid QB2 next season, or pays him to leave.”

We’re not following this logic at all. The $5.3 million salary is indeed guaranteed but it is not problematic. And because it is guaranteed, there would be zero sense in cutting him. And no, Dallas isn’t going to elevate him above Rush because he makes a few million more than the better QB (at this time, Rush) does.

7) It’s being written that “keeping Rush means jettisoning Lance.” That’s simply false. Back in October, we reported on the Cowboys rumors that suggested the team does intend to keep Lance in place.

8) How can they do that? As we wrote it …

“The Cowboys, two sources tell CowboysSI.com, do not plan to exercise the fifth-year option on Lance in the spring of 2025, as that would cost about $25 million. … but do plan on finding a way to keep him in Dallas,” we wrote.

Dallas could offer Lance a long-term deal to stay here to inherit not Dak’s job, but Rush’s. He might say no; in his early 20’s, and as a former blue-chip prospect, would he really want to give up the dream of being a starting NFL QB? 

Probably not. But Dallas will give that a shot.

9) It’s being written that Dallas can’t afford to pay Dak and keep the others. That’s false. Prescott’s APY might become $55 million or $60 million. But a) that doesn’t mean the cap impact has to be and b) that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to retain value at other positions.

And, QB is a pretty valuable position.