This, of course, is a hypothetical. It’s just guesswork. It comes as a complete surprise. However, it is also fair in light of how things have transpired for the Cowboys this offseason, so it is worth considering: In a projected trade, USA Today’s Cowboys site envisions Dallas trading away their star quarterback to the Raiders in exchange for a hefty package that would allow the Cowboys to embark on a major reconstruction.
What about the package in question? Well, it is predicated on what the Lions received in exchange for Matthew Stafford when they traded him to the Rams for Jared Goff. The Cowboys would re-sign Aidan O’Connell, who was a rookie last season and took over as starter at midseason. They’d also receive the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft, as well as the Raiders’ second-rounder (44th overall) and fourth-rounder (112th).
They would then receive the Raiders’ first and third round picks in 2025, as well as a 2026 second-round pick.
That’s six picks, five of which come in the first three rounds. While selling Prescott would be difficult to accept, the Cowboys have made no effort to re-sign him as he enters the final year of his contract. If the goal is to let him go free next offseason, why not trade him for a large haul now?
“If Dallas isn’t going to sign Prescott to a contract extension, why would they keep him for one season and only receive a third-round compensation choice (not guaranteed) in 2026? If Dallas does not select a quarterback in this draft, O’Connell will battle with Trey Lance for QB1 status in training camp.
Now, O’Connell did show some promise with the Raiders last season, but he also shown some severe flaws. He is an accurate passer with some leadership abilities, even as a rookie. He also holds the ball for too long and lacks movement. O’Connell was 5-5 as a starter, throwing for 2,218 yards (201.6 per game), despite being sacked 24 times.
The Raiders went 3-1 in their previous four games, with O’Connell throwing eight touchdowns and no interceptions. He posted a 98.4 quarterback rating in those games, indicating significant progress late in the season.
Cowboys and Dak Prescott: No Progress on an Extension.
But, of course, trading Prescott isn’t about getting O’Connell; it’s about starting over for a Cowboys team that has struggled in the playoffs, most recently losing 48-32 to the Packers in January.
In fact, Cowboys Wire suggests that the team move both Prescott and the organization’s other key contract consideration, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. The deal for him would include a first- and third-round pick here in 2024, giving the organization a full stable of picks with which to begin rebuilding immediately.
Prescott is still under contract in Dallas, and it appears that the team’s strategy is to let him finish the final year of his deal, which is worth $59 million, and then continue from there. He also has a no-trade clause, which he would most likely waive in order to join another franchise prepared to offer him a new long-term contract.
But the Cowboys and their star quarterback are at a deadlock.
According to the NFL.com report: “The Cowboys and Prescott have a mutual understanding that there will be no adjustment to his contract entering the 2024 season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, per sources informed of the plan.”
If 2024 does not go as planned, the Cowboys will undoubtedly explore dismantling the roster through trade. But if that’s the case, they might as well do it now, while their trade pieces are still valuable.
