Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott is not going anywhere

Dak Prescott isn’t out of the Dallas Cowboys’ long-term picture just yet.

Despite throwing for more than 3,000 passing yards and over 20 touchdowns each season since being drafted in 2016, as well as making the Pro Bowl twice, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering the 2020 NFL season without a contract extension, leading many to believe that his time in Dallas is coming to an end.

As easy as it is to come to this conclusion, it’s neither fact nor is it being realistic. Prescott will be 27 years old going into the new season and will be playing with a chip on his shoulder to prove to the Cowboys organization and team owner Jerry Jones, in particular, that this is his team.

Upon entering the league in 2016, Prescott has provided the Cowboys with a prototypical dual-threat presence on the field, allowing him to sling the ball downfield or scramble for large gains. In his career thus far, over 64 starts, he has a record of 40-24, has completed 1,363 of his 2,071 total pass attempts (65.8 percent) for 97 touchdowns and 36 interceptions along with eight comebacks in the fourth quarter, 14 game-winning drives and a 97.0 quarterback rating.

His best statistical season, by far, was his 2019 campaign, in which he set career-highs in passing yards (4,902) and passing touchdowns (30). In doing so, however, Prescott had the second-lowest completion percentage in his career at 65.1 percent after converting 388 of his 596 passing attempts.

In contrast, 2019 was also his worst year from a team standpoint. Even with the Cowboys playing in the NFC East, currently regarded as the weakest division in the NFL, they were still unable to make the playoffs, even with their rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, being plagued with injuries. The Cowboys finished the season with an 8-8 record, despite having one of the most talented rosters.

Frustrated with the lack of results from the franchise quarterback, Jones refused to give Prescott the contract extension he feels he deserves and, therefore, placed the field general on a franchise tag for the 2020 season with a value of $31.4 million.

To make the situation more strenuous, in the aftermath of placing the franchise tag on Dak, Dallas signed long-time Cincinnati Bengal Andy Dalton. The 32-year old became a free agent after the Bengals decided not to extend him, trusting their No. 1 pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, Joe Burrow, to be their starter.

This signing for the Cowboys gives Jones the security of having a veteran backup who could take control of the offense in the event that Prescott decides to holdout or if he decides to take his talents elsewhere entirely.

Is the Dallas Cowboys’ future really not going to include Dak Prescott?

With the deadline to sign players designated to the franchise tag to a long-term contract extension now passed, Dak Prescott is entering the year without a new deal, along with the mass uncertainty of his future tenure with Dallas. Though the majority of the leverage to sign a deal of his liking is out of Prescott’s favor, the 27-year old quarterback is still in the team’s future plans — at least for now.

Dalton may not be a dumpster fire but he is certainly no Dak. With each passing year, Prescott continues to improve his game all around, whether it be his decision-making, scrambling abilities, or leadership. Furthermore, he has the favor and trust of his teammates on offense. Every week, his offensive line is motivated to give their all to protect him with their last breath. In 2020, he is also expected to have the best team of his career in terms of offensive weapons.

Prior to the team focusing on adding receiving threats, Prescott relied heavily on his versatile running back, Ezekiel Elliott, to lead the offense in both the running and passing game. This upcoming season, he has wide receiver Amari Cooper, after recently signing a long-term contract to stay in Big D, and Michael Gallup, who broke out in 2019 proving to be a true No. 2 option.

In addition to these two, the Cowboys acquired a top prospect from the 2020 NFL Draft in Oklahoma wideout CeeDee Lamb, who is not only a great route runner and receiver but excels in earning yards after the catch — an area that is needed for Dallas.

With all of this said, 2020 can go one of three ways for the quarterback:

1. Dak will play with a chip on his shoulder, utilizing the weapons given to him to have an MVP-caliber season, proving to Jerry Jones that he is their franchise guy and deserves to be paid as such by leading them to a deep playoff run — playing in the NFC Championship at the least.
2. He will refuse to play Jerry Jones’ game and holdout from playing until he receives his money.  This will lead to the quarterback being used as trade bait at the deadline midseason or walking away at the end of the year to free agency to find a new team to play for.
3. Prescott fails to rise to the challenge and continues to be the same lackluster quarterback many detractors claim he is. This will then lead him to either take a salary at a far reduced price than what was originally offered or it will lead to the franchise avoiding an extension with the former 2016 AP Rookie of the Year.

One thing is for certain with Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott, though: His future with the team and his legacy in the NFL is going to come down to this upcoming season and whether he rises to the challenge and proves that he should be one of the highest-paid players at his position or not. He, quite literally, holds the keys to his own future.

The fact that the team did not extend him prior to the deadline does not indicate their intentions with the player just yet. This move is simply a precautionary action by Jerry Jones and Co. to avoid overpaying for a subpar quarterback for the next five or so years, like the current dilemma the Los Angeles Rams are facing with Jared Goff.

Analysts will continue to try and spark a breakup between the two parties but this situation is the equivalence of a romantic couple buying a dog prior to having/adopting/supporting a baby. If they can care for the dog and love it while accepting the full responsibilities, then they’ll have a better assessment of where they stand for caring for a child.

If Dak Prescott can play well while making $31.4 million and can meet expectations, then he’ll deserve his long-term contract. The franchise tag placed on him is a trial to see how he can handle the pressure. Nothing more, nothing less. For now, he is still their franchise quarterback.