The No-Trade doesn't benefit Dak any.
There's a $60+ million dead cap hit next year.
Dak is due 29 million in base.
He get 5 million roster bonus in March.
If we cut him, he gets nothing. But Dallas saves $34 million in cap.
So a Trade helps Dak keep his salary for 2024. But the time is short.
Dallas saves the same if he's cut or traded.
June 1 cut or June 1 trade:
2024 Dead Cap: $25,455,000
2025 Dead Cap: $36,460,000
2024 Cap Savings: $34,000,000
Teams dont release QBs that are in the running for league MVP.
Dak knows this, the Cowboys know this, and the rest of the league knows this.
The no trade clause is highly valuable to any player, why do you think they insist on that being in their contract? This prevents Dallas from getting ANY compensation at all by unloading Dak and it protects Dak in that he cant be sent packing to a cellar dweller like the sorry arse Titans in the middle of the night.
Just as valuable is the no franchise tag clause. Dak cant be kept off the open market and it forces the Cowboys to make a decision, you either pay Dak market or you lose him. You naming Lance the new starter with 6 total games of NFL experience?
Dak and his agent both know that aint happening and Dallas has too good of a record to get a pick high enough to draft a replacement franchise QB.
You either pay Dak or you blow the whole team up and suffer through some lean years until you can draft another QB in the top 5.
Jerry aint going to do that, he has to keep the team relevent. You may think Lance might be that guy, but with 6 games total experience you rolling the dice and betting everything on him? Again, dont think Jerry is going to do that, too big of a risk and if Lance aint the guy you just nuked your whole team into oblivion.
Jerry cant risk that and Dak and his agent both know it.