Counter argument: You can in fact draft Patrick Mahomes when your QB is Alex Smith
I think the main issue is just how far Dallas has been from drafting a QB better than Dak.
In 2017 I guess we could have traded up for Mahomes or Watson, but keep in mind we picked 28th. Kansas City traded up from 27 so we would have had to beat their offer. Watson went 12th so we in theory could have traded up, but I don’t think that was practical I’m 2017.
In 2018 we would have had to trade up to 6th in order to get Josh Allen. Not sure if that was doable. We could have taken Lamar Jackson, but I don’t think he’d be very popular or really that much more successful here.
2019, there probably wasn’t a QB worth taking. Even if we traded all the way up, the best we could do was Daniel Jones.
2020, before stating the obvious choice, I’ll humor you here some. Three QBs went in the top 6. I’d also venture to say, the 1st and 2nd picks weren’t for sale and I wouldn’t pay the cost of trading up to #3 knowing what I knew then and what I know now about Tua and Herbert. Now the obvious choice in hindsight was Jalen Hurts, but it also was recent enough that we won’t pretend that this was a move anyone here would have been happy to see. Yes the draft room gets paid millions of dollars to make these decisions but honestly Philly has done a tremendous job surrounding Hurts with great playmakers at WR, TE and RB. Not to mention a great defense as well.
2021, trading up to #1 isn’t an option and neither Zach Wilson or Trey Lance have shown they belong in this league. Justin Fields has played well, but outside of him being on a rookie deal, I’m good passing on him.
2022, trading up for Pickett could have been done, but again all that does is tie more resources into a guy who isn’t the future.
2023, If a guy they like slips past 10 or so, sure, I don’t think anyone will be upset if they make a move, but I don’t think they next Mahomes guys are slipping past 10 this year