Cowboys QB Dak Prescott must show why he's the $240M man in 2025

With EDGE Micah Parsons gone, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott must show why he's the NFL's highest-paid player in 2025.

The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last week for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to end a heated contract dispute. The 26-year-old pass-rusher has since signed a four-year, $186M extension with Green Bay.

Prescott seems to believe the Cowboys will be fine without him.

"I'm not going to say we're better. We've got to go out there and prove it. We had to prove it even if he was on the team, so I'm not going to say that by any means," the QB told the media Sunday. "But I know what adding a guy like Kenny Clark, adding a true leader, a real man that's going to only elevate this team, who's been a Pro Bowl player and is excited about being here [means]." 

The three-time Pro Bowler Clark is solid, but he's no Parsons, whose 52.5 career sacks are the fifth most through a player's first four seasons in league history (via CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles).

Without Parsons, the Cowboys defense — which allowed the league's second-most points (27.5) last season — could regress. 

Dallas will need more from Prescott to mitigate the defensive concerns. Can the 32-year-old QB provide that?   

Prescott was underwhelming in 2024 after signing a four-year, $240M extension. He went 3-5 in eight starts before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury in a Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. During this span, the three-time Pro Bowler completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,978 yards and tossed 11 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Except for acquiring wide receiver George Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in May, the Cowboys didn't give Prescott more playmakers this offseason. 

In free agency, they signed running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Williams rushed for 513 yards in 17 games with the Denver Broncos, while Sanders ran for 205 yards in 11 games with the Carolina Panthers. 

In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected RBs Jaydon Blue (pick No. 149) and Phil Mafah (pick No. 239). 

It seems this is the season the QB must earn his money. Otherwise, the Cowboys could miss the playoffs for a second straight season. That would make paying Prescott instead of Parsons look like a massive mistake.