Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-GM suggests Cowboys shouldn't extend this star player

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 10/11/23

A former NFL general manager believes the Dallas Cowboys should think long and hard about extending quarterback Dak Prescott.

"Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made it clear that he sees Prescott as the team's QB for years to come," wrote former NFL Executive of the Year and contributor for The Athletic Randy Mueller. "But at this point, I see Prescott as no more than an average NFL starter and would not feel comfortable paying him anywhere near his current salary."

Prescott has two years left on a four-year, $160M deal, making him the ninth-highest-paid player at his position. Per Spotrac, his market value is a four-year deal worth $48.4M annually, fifth among QBs.

Dallas should feel uncomfortable giving the 30-year-old the exorbitant extension. He's posted decent numbers in five games, throwing five TDs and posting an above-average 65.1 QBR. Yet it's fair to wonder if he can carry the Cowboys to a Super Bowl after a humbling 42-10 loss to the 49ers, where he threw three picks.

Big time!

First career INT for @BangTimeBurks

#DALvsSF on NBC
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/OU71cHXUzG
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023

Nonetheless, Dallas owner Jerry Jones stood up for the QB.

"I completely believe we have the quarterback that can take us where we want to go," Jones said Tuesday on KRLD-FM in Dallas. "Dak Prescott is a quarterback that can get us to the Super Bowl, and that's the way it's going to be."

However, don't buy Jones's claim that he's sold on the QB. In a signal that he doubts Prescott, he traded for former first-round pick Trey Lance in August without consulting his staff.

To cut Prescott some slack, he's lost integral members of his supporting cast, such as wide receiver Amari Cooper and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, over the past two seasons. However, critics argue that proves he's not an elite QB.

"Prescott is a good quarterback; sometimes very good," wrote Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports. "Little of that, at this point in the season, and his career matters all that much."

Prescott must rebound and show why he's a franchise QB. Otherwise, it will raise doubts about his future as the face of the Cowboys.

More must-reads: