The Dallas Cowboys have put themselves in a pickle with their management (or mismanagement) of the Dak Prescott situation.
Jerry Jones has left Dak hanging for over a year as to whether he should consider himself the franchise quarterback that could lead the Cowboys into the future.
It is now to the point that Jones, a so-called master businessman, has no leverage whatsoever.
When deciding what to do with Dak Prescott, Jones has no choice.
He must trade him, and here are three reasons why.
Before we go into detail, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg sums up the situation very well.
"[The Cowboys have] screwed this situation up so badly … it is going to be SO expensive to keep Dak Prescott that right now, realistically, the best thing they can do is sign and trade him and rebuild. Because even with him they're a bad team."
—@Espngreeny pic.twitter.com/zueTEpjIpE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 16, 2021
1. Expensive And Risky To Sign Long-Term Contract
First of all, the Cowboys should not have signed Ezekiel Elliott to his massive 6 year $90 million contract.
That move has not paid dividends.
If anything, Zeek looked slow and “old” compared to Tony Pollard last season.
So that is the first problem; there is massive money tied up in the backfield.
Then, Dak is going to want $40 million a year.
He is a good quarterback but not worth that money.
If the Cowboys had signed him a year ago, his asking price may not have been so high.
NFL Insider Michael Lombardi talked about the situation recently on Dallas radio station 105.3 (The Fan).
“I think giving him what he wants is really going to be a challenge. Todd France isn’t going to admit Patrick Mahomes is better than Dak, even though he is. He’s not going to admit that Deshaun Watson is better than Dak, even though he is. … Because of the situation, the market is so that it’s no longer who’s better and who deserves more, it’s who can get more. I think that unless Jerry and Stephen are willing to get in that $40 million a year range near Deshaun Watson, they really don’t have much more that they can do.”
2. Trading Him Should Yield Draft Picks
This means the Cowboys have to do with Greenberg suggested.
They need to sign him to a one year deal for probably $40 million.
Then, they need to put him on the market and see what they can get for him.
He’s coming off an ankle injury which makes the trade more challenging.
Trading him within the division may be painful, but the idea of him suiting up for the Washington Football Team is not far fetched.
Nobody knows what Alex Smith is going to be capable of in 2021.
“If Dak Prescott wants out, and he wants to be in a situation where it's about appreciation and building around him, think about Ron Rivera, the HC, and what he's doing, along with the other pieces I mentioned. It wouldn't be a bad place for him.”
– @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/DVtKQUqgQy
— Jordan (@wfteamtoday) February 11, 2021
3. Only Way To Win And Move The Cowboys Forward in the Long Term
Honestly, Dak is a good player and has represented the Dallas Cowboys well.
This situation is just prolonging a really bad breakup.
Nobody on the Cowboys side seems to want to act.
Sign him and break up with him.
Admit that the team is in a rebuilding phase and get the draft picks and whatever players seem like an equitable trade.
The sooner the Cowboys make the decision and move forward, the better it will be for everyone involved.
NEXT: 3 Free Agent Targets For The Dallas Cowboys In 2021
