Increasingly, the chance of Dak Prescott departing from the Cowboys following the 2024 NFL season seems at least somewhat possible, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense. Prescott is entering the final season of his $160 million contract, and the team isn't committed to him after this season.
It's an unusual situation. Prescott is owed $55 million this year, and even if he leaves or gets traded, the Cowboys will still have to pay him. There will be a financial obligation of $40 million on the Cowboys' books if he departs. That's a substantial amount to pay someone who may not be playing for your team, but pushing the financial issue into the future is a common practice in the NFL, which the Cowboys may want to stop, particularly at the quarterback position.
Given the team's recent disappointments in the NFL playoffs, this has become a significant concern for the team. Prescott is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, but he has struggled in the playoffs, throwing seven interceptions in seven games and having a 2-5 record.
Considering this, the USA Today website Cowboys Wire is discussing possible replacements for Prescott. One name that stands out is former first overall pick Trevor Lawrence from the Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence Has Faced Challenges With Jaguars
Lawrence is due for a contract extension, and his performance has been underwhelming with the team that selected him. Although Lawrence is undoubtedly talented, with 4,000 yards in each of his last two seasons, he has not shown the progression the Jaguars expected from the 2021 top selection.
The Jaguars finished with an 8-8 record last season, and despite playing through significant injuries, Lawrence threw 14 interceptions and just 21 touchdowns.
Cowboys Wire writer K.D. Drummond sees Lawrence as a potential short- or long-term solution at QB:
“The third-year starter couldn’t lead Jacksonville to double-digit wins and regressed from his top-10 MVP campaign of 2022. The Jaguars placed the fifth-year option on him, so he’d have to be put on the trade market in order for the Cowboys to acquire his services, but if the former No. 1 selection doesn’t turn the corner, he could be available for trade if Jacksonville goes another direction in the draft next year, or he could come free in 2026 if Dallas lands a bridge QB if Prescott leaves town.”
Cowboys Expected to Pay Dak Prescott $56 Million
Acquiring Lawrence would likely require a major move. It will certainly involve a financial commitment, and if the Cowboys are unwilling to commit to Prescott, there would be doubts about committing to Lawrence.
His fifth-year option is valued at $25.7 million. At Spotrac, Lawrence is projected to earn a six-year, $278 million contract extension. That’s $46 million annually, over a long period of time.
Nevertheless, it is comparably economical in comparison to the site’s Prescott projection, which is four years and $225 million, or $56.25 million per year. Either way, the financial commitment to the position is significant, but the $10 million difference between Prescott and Lawrence is the deciding factor when it comes to adding a free agent like Derrick Henry or keeping Tyron Smith and Tony Pollard.
Landing Lawrence is a longshot. The Cowboys are still considering Trey Lance to take over for Prescott if no new deal is reached. But all options would be on the table, and Lawrence could well become an option in the coming year.
