Former GM's case for Cowboys to draft a QB in first round

Michael Penix. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former GM makes the case for Cowboys to draft a QB in first round

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/12/24

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has indicated that there’s a strong possibility the team will move on from quarterback Dak Prescott next offseason.

The 30-year-old QB is in the final year of his four-year, $160M deal, and though agreeing to an extension hasn’t been completely ruled out either, former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum recently stated on ESPN’s “Get Up” that the Cowboys should have a contingency plan in place should Prescott walk next year.

“If I'm Dallas, I have to be prepared for him to go, and I have to look at the draft,” Tannenbaum said. “…If you go to next year, and [Dak's] extension is somewhere between $55 million and 60 million per year…is [Dak] $52 million a year better than Michael Penix? Knowing that we have CeeDee Lamb, knowing that we have Micah Parsons amongst others [that need new contracts]?”

Could the Cowboys take Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix if they fall in the NFL draft?

"If you like that QB, that's smart business." — @getnickwright explains: pic.twitter.com/TOKJ34zpF2
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 10, 2024

Prescott could command upward of $50M per season on his next deal, which would make him one of the five highest-paid QBs in the NFL along with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow ($55M per year), Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert ($52.5M per year), Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson ($52M per year) and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts ($51M per year).

While that kind of money is fair market value for a quarterback of Prescott’s caliber, it’s an awfully steep price to pay considering Lamb, who’s coming off a 135-catch, 1,749-yard season, is eligible to sign an extension this year and Parsons, who had 103 pressures, 69 hurries, 18 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, will be next year.

Drafting a replacement like Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix with the 24th overall pick would only cost the Cowboys roughly $3M this season, and would allow them to pay both Lamb and Parsons while not having to dole out $40M-$50M per season for a QB.

“That’s why I think someone like Michael Penix will go somewhere in the 20s,” Tannenbaum added. “Not necessarily saying it’s Dallas. But if I’m Dallas, I need an alternative because Dak could [sign somewhere else in 2025].”

Of course, the Cowboys also have Trey Lance under contract for $5.31M in 2024. He could be a cost-effective alternative to Prescott next year should the Cowboys want to use their first-round pick to address another position of need.

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