It might be necessary for the Dallas Cowboys to get used to life without Dak Prescott.
The quarterback, a three-time Pro Bowler, is about to start his last season with Dallas. There’s no assurance that the 30-year-old quarterback will be signed by the Cowboys for an extended period of time, despite their continued insistence to that effect.
Daniel Jones of the New York Giants is one of several quarterbacks who might succeed Prescott, according to Cowboys Wire’s K.D. Drummond. Of the eight possible successors, Drummond calls Jones the “worst nightmare,” although he could only be a “bridge” quarterback should the Cowboys be forced to pursue a quarterback in free agency the next year.
But, Drummond notes, “they’ll probably be shopping again the next offseason, and that could range from signing Prescott as an FA to returning to the draft.” In any case, Jones will enter the NFL as a player who was obviously overdrafted and limited to driving buses (in a bad sense). But to go from being a bridge man to a QB selected in the draft? He is in the zone of potentialities.
Why Daniel Jones is Not an Ideal Option for Cowboys
Since being chosen with the sixth overall choice in the 2019 NFL draft, Jones, 26, has started for the Giants at quarterback. He has only had one successful season as a starter, though, going 9-6-1 in 2022 while helping New York advance to the Playoffs and win it.
In 2022, Jones had his most productive season as a starter, rushing for seven touchdowns and 708 yards while passing for 15 touchdowns against only five interceptions and a 92.5 passer rating.
In the 2023 summer, Jones inked a four-year, $160 million contract extension, but he failed miserably. The 26-year-old quarterback’s 70.5 passer rating was the lowest of his career and the lowest of all starting quarterbacks in the NFL. He finished 1-5 with just two touchdowns versus six interceptions.
With Tyrod Taylor and undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy Devito starting, the Giants, by contrast, went 5-6 without Jones in the lineup. Jones has a career 13-30 record, with the exception of his 2022 season. He also has a serious problem with ball security, ranking second in the league with 46 total fumbles since the 2019 season and leading the league with 24 fumbles lost.
Why Daniel Jones Could Emerge as an Option for Cowboys
Once more, Jones wouldn’t be the best choice to succeed Prescott. But Jones would be a better alternative by default if the Cowboys aren’t able to acquire a quarterback in the event that Prescott left via free agency. Although Jones’s contract is theoretically valid until the 2026 campaign, it could be terminated with a dead cap penalty of little more than $22 million in the 2025 offseason. The most likely scenario is that Jones leaves New York, given the Giants may be in rebuilding mode the following offseason, looking to select their future franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft.
Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff will be three of the best quarterbacks available in free agency the following year.
All three of those players, though, are anticipated to sign new contracts with their current teams since they are firmly established as the franchise quarterbacks of their respective organizations.
Since Trey Lance and Cooper Rush, the Cowboys’ backup quarterbacks, are also eligible for free agency in 2025, the team does not currently have a quarterback under contract.
Although that may not be the ideal situation for Cowboys supporters, Jones could end up in Dallas as a “bridge” or insurance option over the upcoming offseason.