The Cowboys’ options if 2024 is Dak Prescott's swansong with the team

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Say Dak Prescott is gone in 2025... who is QB1 for the Cowboys then?

We've reached the point in the offseason where "what if's" and "maybes" become topics of conversation. For the Dallas Cowboys, the biggest "what if" or "maybe" centers around their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, and whether or not 2024 ends up being his swansong season with the organization.

Instead of presuming Dak Prescott and the Cowboys come together on a contract extension that will pay him in the ballpark of $60 million annually as the market dictates, we will instead pretend the parties part ways after the 2024 season.

So, what would be next for the Cowboys? Are they grooming Trey Lance in the hopes he's their future QB1? Do they want to start fresh with a new starter via the 2025 NFL Draft? Is there a veteran option worth considering? Let's explore these options a little more to try to figure out the best way to replace Dak Prescott.

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Trey Lance takes over

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There's no way of really knowing how the Cowboys feel about Trey Lance right now. His current and future standing with the organization is one of the ultimate mysteries that will hopefully be answered once training camp and preseason games get underway. He will probably be given every opportunity to showcase his skill set, but whether that's to draw trade interest or determine his future in Dallas remains unknown.

For Lance to be considered Prescott's replacement, and the Cowboys future QB1, he's really going to have to dominate in both practices and preseason. He has the offensive firepower around him to succeed and being in Mike McCarthy system for the second year in a row will help as well. He should be as comfortable in his surrounding as he's ever been since entering the league, which should only help improve his worth. Will it be enough?

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2025 NFL Draft options

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Over the past several years the Cowboys have started to shift to younger/cheaper options at nearly every other position except quarterback. Maybe the options in the 2025 QB draft class sway them to do the same to replace Prescott, their long-time starter. With the expected extra three-to-four compensatory picks at their disposal in next year's draft, they could have the ammunition to move around if/when needed for their targeted QB.

Carson Beck (Georgia) is many people’s top-ranked QB right now, but there are others like Donovan Smith (Houston), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), and Drew Allar (Penn State) in the mix as well. It's still way too early to guess with any kind of accuracy which QB prospect Dallas could zero in on, but there should be several options available for them in the 2025 NFL Draft if they choose to go with a rookie to replace No. 4.

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Veteran options

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Going with a veteran to replace Prescott is probably the most unlikely and least desired option for the Cowboys. Going this route would mean the Trey Lance trade/experiment failed and for whatever reason they didn't come away with their future QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft either. This would be a tough pill to swallow for a variety of reasons, but there could be a stopgap player available via free agency to keep them competitive.

Russell Wilson is probably the best vet QB Dallas could target to replace Prescott, but nothing he's accomplished in the past few years would suggest his play is on par with No. 4. The next best is probably Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo. Then there of course the former high-draft picks Zack Wilson, Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, and even Davis Mills. Nothing screams QB1 upgrade over Prescott, but these are likely their vet options.

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