Dalton's play will decide Prescott's future

[Reverend Conehead]

Dalton is a high-quality backup and a stop-gap. He's not the team's future. If anyone is to threaten Dak's starting position, it will be a promising draftee, and we have to wait and see how Dak's rehab goes and if the team drafts a QB.

 

[Hoofbite]

Don't really need him as a long term solution just a stop gap while getting an early rd cheap QB. He's still young enough at that position that a 2/3 year deal would work.

Stopgap to do what though? If the ultimate goal is to get an early round QB, you kind of have to put yourself in a position to have a solid draft pick....and that means losing. What are we going for here? Unless the answer is continued mediocrity, it just doesn't make sense. Dalton isn't likely to lead the team to a level of success that makes him worth a 2/3 year investment (never done it before) and he sadly just barely good enough to prevent you from reaching the early draft pick that you need to get a franchise guy.

 

[USArmyVet]

I have seen multiple threads of how Prescott should or shouldn't get paid next year.

The incredible twist now is how Andy Dalton and the team does the rest of the year will go a long ways to deciding his future and Prescott's with Dallas.

Scenario 1: Dallas doesn't win division or make playoffs. I think Dalton doesn't return and Prescott is franchised or signed long term.

Scenario 2: Dallas wins the division, but loses in wildcard round. I think Dalton is used as leverage against Prescott. If Prescott doesn't sign a team friendly deal, Dallas then signs Dalton to a 2 to 3 year deal at 20 million per(like Bridgewater) till the next quarterback is found. Prescott is exclusively tagged. If there are no takers before free agency the tag is rescinded and Prescott becomes free agent(should net 3rd round pick).

Scenario 3: Dallas wins divison and wins more than one playoff game. Dallas is now between a rock and a hard place. Dalton gets resigned, but his asking price just went up north of 25 million per. Dallas uses exclusive tag on Prescott, but if there are no takers, hits free agency. Same as scenario 3.

Scenario 4: Dallas wins SB. Dalton is signed to a long term deal(four years)and Prescott is done in Dallas.

The only scenario I see that Prescott comes back is Dallas not having a successful 2020. The more success Dallas has, the chances Prescott comes back drops with each victory.

Ironically, Prescott has to root against Dallas for his future in Dallas.

While your post is a thought provoking post and well written while containing a valid debate, sadly you will not receive much in terms of open debate or feedback due to the "how dare you think to replace Dak" sentiment.

 

[CowboyFrog]

According to Jerry and Stephen. Dak is still the guy. Now if Dalton goes out and puts up great numbers close to or better then Dak was doing before injury. Then we might have something to discuss. But in all likely hood we probably will finish 6-10 or 7-9 under Dalton. I still don't think he'll last the whole season if he takes the hits Dak has taken through the years. But on the bright side? 6 and 10 may win this division

In all fairness to Dalton, the record with this team around them may swing one game with Dak, again thats not a measure of the diference between QBs thats a testiment to what the worst defense in the league can do...we are going to lose worse to good teams and probably lose one Game Dak may have pulled out.

 

[CowboyFrog]

While your post is a thought provoking post and well written while containing a valid debate, sadly you will not receive much in terms of open debate or feedback due to the "how dare you think to replace Dak" sentiment.

Can you truely say you feel like you have open and honest discussions on Dak.....If so, ok...you know stones glass house kinda thing.

 

[InTheZone]

Dalton's play will not decide anything regarding Dak. He's going to be 33 in a couple of weeks. Dalton is not a long-term solution and I'm damn sure not going to support signing Dalton to anything close to $20M or $25M annually. Guy is currently on a 1-year deal for $3M. Anyone willing to toss a multi-year contract at $20M or $25M for Dalton is out of their mind.

Lets just assume Dalton plays lights out and we reach the playoffs, why can't he be a long term solution when i see QBs playing at a high level at 38+ years old?

 

[Future]

fans won't root against the team

You're crazy if you don't think a good chunk of this board would rather be right about Dak, DLaw, Zeke, McCarthy, whoever than win games.

 

[Philmonroe]

I understand the money stance...and I'm all for a winning formula no matter who the QB is, I just need to see that saving money at the QB position is a winning formula.

The thing is you can't see that formula unless something unfortunate like this happens and or teams stop giving any halfway decent QB a big time deal. Look at Minnesota one of Daks QB brothers got all that money and how have they fared since he got there? Its not Daks fault most of the time but I'm also not a believer that he's some top 5 QB outside of fantasy stats. The stats look good but then you have to wonder why does he oftentimes seem to put up these numbers when down by 2/3 tds but when the games are close he seems more like how I see him and average? I'm pretty sure someone in the Boys FO probably has a better breakdown of things like this than I mentioned and why they are currently pulling a Kirk Cousisn with Dak regarding taking the contract they want him to sign.

 

[Future]

While your post is a thought provoking post and well written while containing a valid debate, sadly you will not receive much in terms of open debate or feedback due to the "how dare you think to replace Dak" sentiment.

It's not thought provoking lol. There is no scenario in which Andy Dalton plays so well that the Cowboys would rather make a long-term investment in him than in Dak.

If Dalton plays well enough to warrant that, he's going to cost more than $30 million. Dallas isn't going to move from Dak to Dalton for savings that unsubstantial.

 

[NumOneQB]

31 NFL GMs didn’t give Dalton a shot to compete for a starting job. Put Dak out into the market and he’s signed quickly as a top free agent. Where is the idiotic notion that Dalton is better than Dak coming from? Dalton is not a franchise QB. Wow.

 

[Verdict]

Yeah and Romo was a much older QB, when Romo had his 1st back surgery did Dallas bring him back? sure but as Romo got older just as when Aikman got older and injuries were becoming more and more of a factor then the ball club moved on. Dak has no history of injury and is still a young player so I think that is one big difference. Dallas is not going to build around Dalton I think most level headed people would agree to that.

Most level headed people would have bet the farm that Romo would have returned as the starter when healthy but that didn’t happen. I’m just sayin’.

 

[Verdict]

It's not thought provoking lol. There is no scenario in which Andy Dalton plays so well that the Cowboys would rather make a long-term investment in him than in Dak.

If Dalton plays well enough to warrant that, he's going to cost more than $30 million. Dallas isn't going to move from Dak to Dalton for savings that unsubstantial.

It’s all in how your frame the issue. If framed this way, that is correct.

On the other hand if Dalton is more successful than Dak because of his decision making, the powers that be may decide that Dalton is not the long term answer but keep him around in the short term on a cheaper deal, and let Dak walk instead of paying him twice what Dalton would make and go back to looking for another Dak.

 

[Verdict]

I think they have been very clear. Dak is their long term future. If Dallas wins this year (which is a mighty big stretch) then Dalton will be our Foles. The chances of us winning it all with this defense is like finding someone saying 2020 has been the best year ever.

They said the exact same thing about Romo. What did they do, with Romo? I’m asking for a friend.

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

If this team wasn't trying to set records on Defense, and with how many O-lineman can play in a year, I would give him a better shot...Dalton is comming into a horrible spot behind a QB who was playing at a high level...........I'm not sure what other picture can be painted from this..

Your assuming Dalton won't play at a high level, that remains to be seen. Yes we have a horrible D and that doesn't bode well but by the same token Dalton never played with an offense in Cinci that has the talent that this offense has. It will be fun to watch and see what happens, personally i don't think the offense is going to miss a beat

 

[Verdict]

Stopgap to do what though? If the ultimate goal is to get an early round QB, you kind of have to put yourself in a position to have a solid draft pick....and that means losing. What are we going for here? Unless the answer is continued mediocrity, it just doesn't make sense. Dalton isn't likely to lead the team to a level of success that makes him worth a 2/3 year investment (never done it before) and he sadly just barely good enough to prevent you from reaching the early draft pick that you need to get a franchise guy.

Dak was a 4th round pick. Herbert was a second round pick. Brees was a second round pick. Brady was a 6th round pick. QBs are found outside the 1st round.

I think Hurts was on our radar this year, but he went too high.

 

[Philmonroe]

Stopgap to do what though? If the ultimate goal is to get an early round QB, you kind of have to put yourself in a position to have a solid draft pick....and that means losing. What are we going for here? Unless the answer is continued mediocrity, it just doesn't make sense. Dalton isn't likely to lead the team to a level of success that makes him worth a 2/3 year investment (never done it before) and he sadly just barely good enough to prevent you from reaching the early draft pick that you need to get a franchise guy.

You do know Dalton made the playoffs his first 5 years right? I'm assuming you're a Dak fan and the only thing separating them is a playoff win. Using your logic we shouldn't invest in Dak either unless one playoff win equals 40mil plus on your books. Now we do agree that Dalton is just good enough. The funny thing is so is Dak but y'all can't seem to see that. Must be some football fatherly love for Dak since he was drafted here. Make no mistake though Dak is the same caliber of player that is just good enough to keep you from getting a franchise guy.

 

[Philmonroe]

Dak was a 4th round pick. Herbert was a second round pick. Brees was a second round pick. Brady was a 6th round pick. QBs are found outside the 1st round.

I think Hurts was on our radar this year, but he went too high.

Chargers Herbert was not a second rd pick. He was the 6th pick my man unless we talking about another Herbert.

 

[CowboyFrog]

Lets just assume Dalton plays lights out and we reach the playoffs, why can't he be a long term solution when i see QBs playing at a high level at 38+ years old?

if Dalton leads the league in passing (lights out) and take THIS TEAM deep in playoffs....what kind of discount are we getting to sign him? I think everyone agrees on the less we pay players the better, but at some point everyone needs to understand ..a good QB season gets ridiculous money.....So in your scenario of Dalton will work because he is cheaper..tell me what lights out is?

Getting to the playoffs meant you won the east....I think we were going to win the east anyway.

 

[Hoofbite]

Lets just assume Dalton plays lights out and we reach the playoffs, why can't he be a long term solution when i see QBs playing at a high level at 38+ years old?

Has he ever consistently played as well as all those 38-year-olds you see? Why should we believe he will start now?

 

[jaythecowboy]

Scenario 2 and 3 make no sense. If you tag Prescott, once he signs it you can't rescind it. So the way you set it up in every scenario except winning the Super Bowl, Dak would be back as the starting qb.

Just because a deal was offered doesn't matter.

Things are not static, things change. Different scenarios appear that were not there when negotiations were last held.

For those that believe that success by Dalton and the team will not affect future negotiations, are thinking like a fan and not a team. Always think like a team.

The Dallas front office has shown on more than one occasion that this is a business deal and will be treated like one.

Disagree with your framing here as well. Even as a business decision letting a valuable asset go to free agency for nothing is bad business.