The Dallas Cowboys are about to embark on a season that could quite possibly be the last run for the recent roster, with staples on both side of the ball in tact over the last few seasons.
With Dak Prescott at QB, CeeDee Lamb at WR and defensive stars like Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys have finished the last three seasons with an impressive 12-5 record heading into playoffs.
Yet for whatever reason, Prescott has struggled mightily when the games matter the most —and in last year’s case — the team’s top-3 defense was torched by Jordan Love an a Packers’ offense loaded with rookies and young players.
Regardless, after just making Lamb the second-highest paid non-QB in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys have a decision to make with Prescott, who is in no hurry to sign a deal he doesn’t like as he fully understands there will be a line of teams waiting to make him one of the highest paid signal callers in the league after 2024.
No matter how Prescott or the Cowboys play this season, he’s proven year after year to put up top five numbers at the hardest position in the NFL during the regular season, so GMs will take a chance and hope a change of scenery will help him get over the hurdle.
If there’s any chance of Prescott staying in Dallas, he needs to lead the Cowboys on a significant playoff run so Jerry Jones will have no choice but to open the check book.
The problem? Jones and the Dallas Cowboys brass did almost nothing to surround him with new talent this offseason. They lost their starting center and All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith, while letting their starting RB Tony Pollard, sign with the Titans.
Prescott has always thrived with a dynamic back behind him to help carry the load, opening up the play action game. Defenses also struggle to account for Prescott as a passer and runner while worrying if he may hand the ball off to a dynamic RB in the backfield.
For years, Zeke Elliott was that weapon for the Cowboys.