Dak Prescott Contract Saga Proves Jerry Jones Has No Idea What He is Doing

As the NFL continues to navigate the offseason, Dallas Cowboys fans have been left dealing with one constant question: is this quarterback Dak Prescott's final season with the franchise?

Prescott, 30, is entering the final year of the four-year, $160 million deal that he signed back in 2021. While a portion of the fanbase would be more than happy with another long-term contract, others would be happy to see a fresh start under center. Either way, Dallas supporters are tired of Prescott's contract saga causing a distraction ahead of what's a must-win season.

Unfortunately, the situation isn't close to being over and it's all because of one man: Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones. While some won't hesitate to point fingers at Prescott, the latest update regarding the start QB's next contract proves that Jones has no idea what he's doing.

Cowboys News: Jerry Jones is Fumbling Dak Prescott Contract Saga

NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on Tuesday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" to discuss multiple topics, including Prescott's future with the Cowboys. Schefter describes how grim the situation is, highlighting how Dallas will absorb a $95 million dead cap hit if the 30-year-old veteran leaves as a free agent next March.

It's frustrating because the Cowboys had a ton of time to extend Prescott, but now the clock is ticking. The team can't franchise tag him next offseason, meaning they'll have to compete against other QB-hungry teams if they decide they don't like their other potential options.

Although playoff success has eluded him, Prescott has still been one of the NFL's best quarterbacks over the last decade. He's a three-time Pro-Bowler who just finished second in NFL MVP voting after leading the league in completions (410) and TD passes (36) while also throwing for over 4,400 passing yards for the third time since 2019.

It's just difficult to understand what Jones' plan is. If he's tired of Prescott being under center, that's fine, but who's the next man up?

Cooper Rush has been in town for nearly 10 years but he turns 31 in November and isn't a long-term solution. There's also Trey Lance, but it's hard being confident in a QB who's only attempted 420 passes since the beginning of the 2018 college football season.

Both signal-callers are free agents next offseason, though, meaning the Cowboys would have to look to the draft for their next QB (assuming that Prescott walks). While adding a promising arm is fine and dandy, prospects aren't guaranteed to reach their potential and Dallas might have to go through several drafts before it finds 'the one.'

That's not exactly a sound strategy if Jones wants to win now, though.

Even if the Cowboys try to replace Prescott with a free agent next offseason, the upcoming class doesn't exactly offer any clear upgrades. Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and Tua Tagovailoa are promising and young, but they'll likely re-sign with their respective franchises.

That would leave Dallas looking to replace Prescott with the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo, Jared Goff, and Russell Wilson, which is a pretty exciting trio... if this was 2019.

In other words, if winning a Super Bowl is Jones' main goal, it's clear that sticking with Prescott is the best option for the present and near future. Every other option to achieve immediate success is risky and has the potential to blow up in the 81-year-old's face — especially if Prescott goes and has success elsewhere.

Whether he wants Prescott to stay or leave, Jones has to pull himself together and figure things out to avoid another season-long distraction. There's only so much more talk about going "all in" and being "locked and loaded" that Cowboys fans can take.

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