The Dallas Cowboys appear hesitant to give quarterback Dak Prescott a record-breaking contract, and the three-time Pro Bowler is already alluding to looking for his next team. Now entering the final year of his contract, Prescott will hit the open market at the end of the season, as a clause in the quarterback’s contract prevents the Cowboys from using the franchise tag on him. With extension talks seemingly at a standstill, it seems like the quarterback is on a collision course with the open market. Prescott says he’s focused on football rather than his contract status, but that didn’t stop him from addressing his future in a recent interview.
“At the end of the day, it’s a business,” Prescott said. “I want to be here, but when you look up, all the great quarterbacks I watched played for other teams. My point in saying that is that’s not something to fear. That may be a reality for me one day. It may not be my decision. That’s the freedom that I have.”
Dak Prescott is no Patrick Mahomes, but he is one of the better quarterbacks in the league and should have no issue finding a new team. While he would be an upgrade for most organizations, the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers could be the most aggressive for his services.
Dak Prescott Alludes To His Next Team – Panthers, Saints Frontrunners?
One of the few guarantees in life is that Dak Prescott will get a record-setting contract in 2025, whether it’s with the Cowboys or his next team. Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are averaging $55 million per year, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Prescott ends up pushing $60 million per year. A contract like this comes with a high cap hit, which could push a team like the New Orleans Saints out of the running. The Saints are projected to be $91.64 million over the 2025 salary cap, but New Orleans always finds a way to manipulate money and create cap space. So, if they want Dak Prescott, they’ll probably find a way to make the money work.
The Saints do not believe in rebuilding and life in a perpetual state of NFL purgatory. Their constant restructures and short-term signings ensure they never land a top-five pick. Still, their questionable quarterback situation and piles of dead money means they’ll never be a true contender. Seeing as they probably won’t be able to draft a quarterback in a supposedly weak 2025 draft class, the Saints might part ways with Derek Carr and could be the next team to sign Dak Prescott. If nothing else, the longtime Cowboy can make this team more competitive and return to the playoffs for the first time since the Drew Brees Era.
The End of Bryce Young?
For better or worse, the Carolina Panthers will find out if Bryce Young is a franchise quarterback in 2024. The 2023 first-overall pick had flashes of greatness as a rookie but mostly struggled to move the ball, ranking at or near the bottom of just about every passing statistic. Carolina had perhaps the worst supporting cast in the league, and Young couldn’t elevate the subpar talent. Carolina addressed this issue throughout the offseason, improving the offensive line while adding Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette as pass-catching weapons.
Nobody will confuse this team with the 2007 New England Patriots, but Young has enough pieces to lead a competent offense. If he still can’t get the job done, the Panthers could be the next team for Dak Prescott. Owner David Tepper is not the most patient man and probably won’t want to roll the dice on another untested quarterback. Instead, he could outspend the competition for a proven quarterback capable of leading a top passing attack.
Main Photo: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports
