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

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.