10 Cowboys Entering Their Final Season With Dallas

The 2024 NFL season officially begins this week, marking the start of the Dallas Cowboys' quest to end their Super Bowl drought. America's Team hits the ground running when they face the Cleveland Browns on the road in a Week 1 showdown where the Cowboys are projected to be 2.5-point underdogs, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Dallas fans are excited to see what this year's group can do following January's unfortunate playoff exit. But while certain players will likely be in town beyond the current season, others could be entering their final season with the Cowboys — whether that's because they're on an expiring contract or because their play has declined.

With that being said, here are 10 Cowboys who could be playing their final year with the franchise.

1. Dak Prescott, QB

Unless you've been living under a rock you know that the 2024 season is a critical year for Dak Prescott. The long-time Cowboys starting quarterback is set to carry a $55.1 million cap hit in the last year of his contract and will hit free agency in March if an extension can't be reached.

On Monday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Cowboys and Prescott are "in talks" about an extension and that conversations have been going on for a month. Rapoport added that the "stakes are as high as they get" as the veteran gunslinger aims to become the highest-paid QB in league history.

Naturally, Cowboys fans are split on this issue.

On one hand, it seems to move on from a QB who was just the NFL leader in completions and passing yards in 2023. That's without mentioning how he finished second in last year's MVP race and consistently performs like a top-10 signal-caller in any given season. Besides, it isn't as if Trey Lance and Cooper Rush are the most inspiring backup plans.

On the other hand, as beloved as he is, there are concerns. For starters, Prescott is now in his 30s, so it remains to be seen if a drop-off is looming. Secondly, the former Mississippi State product is only 2-5 in the postseason and while not all of those losses were his fault, the fact that he has one playoff win since 2019 still leaves much to be desired.

Hopefully, Prescott proves this season why he deserves to be the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Otherwise, the Cowboys could be starting someone new under center in 2025.

2. Trey Lance, QB

Sticking with quarterbacks, Trey Lance could also be entering his final year in the Lone Star State.

The 24-year-old's short NFL career has been quite the ride, to say the least. After a strong collegiate career at North Dakota State, Lance was drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 draft. A series of injuries and the rise of "Mr. Irrelevant 2023" Brock Purdy cut Lance's time short with the 49ers, leading to his being traded to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick last summer.

Lance didn't see any action with Dallas last year, spending the entire campaign as the emergency QB. He finally got a taste of action last month, though, ending August as the NFL preseason leader in both passing (662) and rushing (168) yards. Unfortunately, the ex-Bison also had five interceptions mixed in there, which took away from his positives.

Fast forward to Week 1 when Lance is set to be the QB3 behind Prescott and Cooper Rush again. That isn't to say that he can't rise up the depth chart, however, the fact that he continues to play second fiddle to Rush is concerning about his outlook.

If Lance can't show what made him worthy of being a top-three selection, his time in Dallas could end soon.

3. Brandin Cooks, WR

You could argue that Brandin Cooks is one of the more underrated wide receivers in recent NFL history. He might not have a lengthy accolade list like some of his counterparts, but he's still a gifted pass-catcher who tallied at least 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns six times between 2015 and 2021.

After spending three seasons with the Houston Texans, Cooks made the trip down Interstate 45 North when he was traded to the Cowboys for two draft picks in March 2023. The ex-Oregon State receiver went on to finish second on the team with eight TD catches, however, his 54 receptions and 657 yards were two of the worst marks of his career.

Cooks' contract is also set to expire after the 2024 campaign, so it's up to him to prove that he belongs in the Cowboys' plans going forward. If he can continue finding the end zone, he'll be well worth the $10 million cap hit he carries. If not, it's going to be tough to justify bringing him back — especially now that his play will likely keep declining in his 30s.

4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB

A lot of Cowboys supporters were left heartbroken when the team let Ezekiel Elliott walk away last offseason. After all, the three-time Pro Bowl running back ranks third in franchise history when it comes to carries, rushing yards, and TDs on the ground. It isn't surprising that so many people wanted him to finish his career in Big D.

But after one season with the New England Patriots, Elliott is back in town on a one-year contract. With last year's RB1 Tony Pollard out of town, Jerry Jones & Co. clearly hope that a returning Elliott will improve the Cowboys' red-zone presence.

While it's nice to see Elliott back in a Dallas jersey, fans shouldn't let nostalgia cloud reality.

We're talking about a 29-year-old running back who's failed to tally 1,000 scrimmage yards just twice with both of those instances occurring in the last two seasons. He only had three TDs last season and while rejoining the Cowboys offense should help improve that number, it might not have an impact on the career-worst 3.5 yards per carry he averaged.

If Elliott doesn't hit the ground running, he could lose the RB1 job to Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, or even recent practice squad addition Dalvin Cook. And if that does happen, chances are that Elliott won't be back in 2025.

5. Jordan Phillips, DT

Could Jordan Phillips' first season with the Cowboys be his last? Potentially.

The 31-year-old defensive tackle joined Dallas' frontline via a trade with the rival New York Giants this offseason. The former Oklahoma Sooner just spent the last two seasons in his second stint with the Buffalo Bills, tallying 19 solo tackles, 4.0 sacks, and seven defended passes across 26 games (10 starts).

With that in mind, Phillips must prove to the Cowboys that he can still play at a high level. Although he was decent in a backup role with the Bills, it's hard to ignore his shortcomings.

Phillips was one of the NFL's worst DTs last season and it wasn't even close. The Towanda, KS native missed a career-worst 36.8% of his tackling attempts as Pro Football Focus awarded him a 30.0 run defense grade — the fourth-worst grade among 137 eligible interior defenders. He also received a 35.8 for overall defense, which was the second-worst grade at his position.

Phillips has had a solid career, but it's clear that the 31-year-old is closer to the end than the beginning. Unless he turns back the clock, I have a hard time imagining his return next season.

6. Zack Martin, OG

It's hard to remember a time when the Cowboys' offensive line didn't feature Zack Martin. The 33-year-old guard has started in all 152 of his appearances since he was drafted 16th overall by Dallas in 2014 and has used each of those opportunities to solidify himself as one of the league's best blockers.

Martin is consistently heralded by his peers and fans as one of the best offensive guards of all time and it's tough to argue that fact. He's been named to seven All-Pro first-teams while earning nine Pro Bowl nods, receiving some sort of individual recognition every year except when he only played 10 games during an injury-plagued 2020 season.

Having said that, Martin is also entering the final year of a contract that was reworked earlier this offseason. Even though the Cowboys would be happy to shell out any financial figure to keep him in town, Father Time could prove to be the biggest obstacle.

Martin isn't getting any younger as he's set to turn 34 in November. He still has plenty of juice in the tank, but that could be a reason why he calls it a career after this year. Some athletes — especially the ones — prefer to retire at the top of their game rather than being forced to due to injury.

If the Cowboys manage to end their Super Bowl drought in February, Martin could see that as the perfect opportunity to hang up his cleats. At the same time, failing to take home the Lombardi Trophy might be the last straw for him, too.

7. Bryan Anger, P

Bryan Anger enjoyed a solid nine-year career as a punter in the NFL before joining the Cowboys in 2021. But since making the move to Dallas, the 35-year-old special teamer has taken his game to the next level.

Anger has been named second-team All-Pro twice while playing in two Pro Bowls since signing with the Cowboys, which includes accomplishing both feats last year. The ex-California Golden Bear averaged a career-high 51.4 yards per punt in 2023 with his longest attempt going 63 yards.

But while his 2023 performance was decent for the most part, there were also some reasons for concern. For starters, Anger only recorded two touchbacks with his 4.5 TB% being the second-worst mark of his career. That's without mentioning how only 17 of his punts landed inside of the 20-yard line, which is his lowest total since 2019.

Anger is still among the best punters in the league, but he won't be able to play at a high level forever. If his numbers continue to drop, the Cowboys likely won't be motivated to bring him back when he becomes a free agent in March.

8. C.J. Goodwin, CB

Veteran cornerback C.J. Goodwin is set to enter his seventh season with the Cowboys. The former California (PA) product was re-signed to a one-year contract this spring after missing the majority of the 2023 season with a pectoral tear.

Goodwin was been an important part of Dallas' special teams throughout his tenure. He's amassed 28 solo tackles while playing 1,424 special teams snaps since 2018 and his hard work even saw him earn more defensive opportunities before suffering his season-ending injury.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Goodwin looks on the gridiron this fall. He didn't play any snaps during the preseason, meaning the last time Cowboys fans saw the 34-year-old in an actual game was against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 8, 2023 — nearly 11 months ago. Given the fact that he's fully on the wrong side of 30, there's a chance that he may have lost a step in the last year.

Hopefully, Goodwin can showcase what made him one of Mike McCarthy's most trusted special teamers in the first place. Otherwise, his Cowboys run could end the moment when his contract does.

9. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

DeMarcus Lawrence has been one of the NFL's best pass rushers ever since he was the 34th-overall pick by the Cowboys in 2014. He's played 137 games for America's Team since then, amassing 278 solo tackles, 58.5 sacks, and 20 forced fumbles with as many disrupted passes.

The Cowboys inked Lawrence to a $40 million contract for three years back in 2022, and that deal is set to expire following the 2024 season. There's no doubt that Dallas fans would love for another contract to be signed if both sides are willing, however, that could be easier said than done.

Lawrence is set to carry a $20.4 million cap hit this season before becoming a free agent in 2024. Even though he's coming off his second of back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns, the Cowboys might not be willing to pay a similar price for an aging defender who's turning 33 in April.

And even if the Cowboys want him back, Lawrence could also be considering retirement just like Martin. He's been in the league for over a decade while racking up over $117 million in career earnings. Unless he refuses to retire until he wins a Super Bowl, Lawrence could end up prioritizing his physical well-being if the Cowboys don't bring home the Lombardi Trophy this postseason.

10. Mike McCarthy, HC

The aforementioned players aren't the only Cowboys who could be entering their last season with Dallas. After all, head coach Mike McCarthy's five-year contract is set to expire at the end of the year, leaving many fans to wonder if he deserves an encore performance.

On one hand, you can't argue against McCarthy's regular-season success. Since taking over as the HC in 2020, the 60-year-old bench boss has guided the Cowboys to a 42-25 record with their 62.7% win percentage ranking fourth-best across the league during that stretch. Additionally, only the Kansas City Chiefs have more regular-season wins (37) than the Cowboys (36) since 2021.

But McCarthy's regular-season performances aren't the concern. It's what happens after which has left the Super Bowl-winning HC on the hot seat.

The Cowboys have qualified for the NFL postseason thrice under McCarthy's watch and only have a 1-3 record in four playoff games to show for it. Even if that isn't the biggest sample size, it becomes more concerning when you realize that McCarthy's playoff record sits at 6-9 since winning the Lombardi Trophy with the Green Bay Packers well over a decade ago.

Unless the Cowboys reach the NFC Championship Game at a minimum, McCarthy might not be back behind the bench in 2025. He's certainly a better coach than most of his peers, but it's clear that Dallas needs someone who can win beyond the regular season.

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