In March, a rumor surfaced seemingly out of nowhere claiming that the Cleveland Browns have been “negotiating…with the Dallas Cowboys for a commerce” to amass quarterback Dak Prescott from Dallas.
No such transaction materialized, however eyebrows understandably have been raised when Dallas landed backup signal-caller Joe Milton III from the New England Patriots in early April.
For a bit revealed on Thursday, Cowboys insider Todd Archer of ESPN addressed chatter relating to whether or not Milton may change a wholesome Prescott within the Dallas lineup through the upcoming season.
“Let’s begin with the plain: Dak Prescott’s job is just not on the road,” Archer mentioned. “The Cowboys signed him to an extension by 2028 in September that made him the highest-paid quarterback within the sport. There may be not an escape till perhaps after the 2027 season. However the contract will probably be one thing Prescott should measure as much as in 2025. He turns 32 in July. Up to now 5 seasons, he has missed time with ankle, thumb, calf and hamstring accidents.”
Prescott signed a four-year contract extension reportedly price $240M with $231M assured. He then went down with what grew to become a season-ending hamstring damage in Week 9 of the season.
That mentioned, Prescott emerged in 2023 as a MVP finalist. Per Pro Football Reference stats, he completed that common season ranked second within the league with a 72.7 adjusted QBR, second with a 105.9 passer ranking, third with 4,516 passing yards and first with 36 passing touchdowns.
To match, Milton entered the NFL as a 2024 sixth-round draft choose after which spent nearly all of his rookie season buried on the New England depth chart beneath journeyman Jacoby Brissett and present Patriots starter Drake Maye. Whereas dealing with largely backup defensive gamers in New England’s Week 18 win over the Buffalo Payments, Milton accomplished 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a landing. He additionally rushed for a rating in that sport.
History shows there may be nearly at all times a inventive approach for a workforce to both escape or alter a contract. Nonetheless, there was no indication as of the ultimate Thursday of June that first-year Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer would even take into account enjoying Milton over an accessible Prescott earlier than Week 18 of the upcoming season.
Rumors in regards to the Cowboys’ long-term plans may as soon as once more come up if Prescott repeatedly produces duds coming off his newest damage setback. Nonetheless, such conversations might be punted down the highway to not less than 2026.
