For years, Dak Prescott has been one of the most polarizing figures in the league. For whatever reason, he has struggled to string together great seasons, and while the highs are very high, the lows are, well... not good.
The Dallas Cowboys have rolled the dice on multiple young and unpolished quarterbacks during the Dak Prescott era. While he continues to give him huge paychecks, it has always felt like Jerry Jones isn't entirely sold on his quarterback.
So, after watching him make a run at Trey Lance and Joe Milton, one can only wonder if the Cowboys won't do the same with Anthony Richardson. He might be easy to get, and his upside is otherworldly.
The Cowboys should consider making a run at Anthony Richardson
By all means, Prescott might be playing for another big-money contract extension this season. Even if that's not the case, the Cowboys will be wise to rework his deal and lower his massive $76 million cap hit for next season.
But what if he fails to keep up his MVP-caliber play from last season? We've already seen him struggle with consistency, and other teams have recently absorbed massive dead cap hits by parting ways with their quarterbacks. The Broncos did it with Russell Wilson, and the Dolphins and Cardinals just did it with Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray, respectively. That's where Richardson enters the picture.
Richardson has been the most erratic quarterback in the league since entering in 2023. He's dealt with multiple ailments, including a freak eye injury, and his infamous tap-out may have been the straw that broke the camel's back in Indianapolis. Watching the Colts give up on a former No. 4 pick so early in his career certainly isn't encouraging.
That said, it also gives the Cowboys the perfect opportunity to buy low on arguably the most athletic quarterback prospect in NFL history. They already liked someone similar in Milton, who can make plays with his legs and has a bazooka for an arm, so Richardson fits a similar bill.
The Cowboys have a brilliant, offensive-minded head coach in Brian Schottenheimer. He's made Prescott look quite good, and maybe he can work his magic with the inexperienced Richardson, polishing his technique and footwork and bringing out the best of his mesmerizing physical tools.
This team has nothing to lose by swinging for the fences with him. At worst, he'll be off their books after one year. At best, he can give them a decade-plus of top-notch dual-threat quarterback play. It's the ultimate low-risk/high-reward situation.
Richardson is reportedly making strides in the Colts' offseason, but they'll still stick with Daniel Jones. So, what if the Cowboys trade for him, Prescott gets hurt again, and Richardson impresses all of us? He might be the Cowboys' version of Malik Willis or Mac Jones; they could have him as a valuable trade piece or a high-end backup for a year or two if they sign him once his rookie deal expires.
This, of course, is not to say that the Cowboys should look for an exit strategy or move on from Dak Prescott just for the sake of it; he's earned the benefit of the doubt and some flowers. Still, things can always change in this business, and as bad as Richardson has been, he's only 24 and might be highly motivated to prove the doubters wrong, knowing that he may not get another chance.
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