Video: Should Dak Prescott be concerned with Joe Milton joining the Cowboys?

[Verdict]

If we keep him in 2026, his 2027 base salary ($45 million) becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth league day of 2026. So we'd have to cut him in 2026 and eat $130 million in dead space. Tell me that's realistic.

If you want to cut him after the 2027 season, his dead cap with the $45 million guaranteed will be $100 million (compared to $68 million to keep him).

The reason we can cut him in 2028 is because only $17 million of his base salary becomes fully guaranteed in 2027. Therefore it costs us $49 million in dead space to cut him and $78 million to keep him.

When taking into account his cap hit, you've got to figure in those guarantees the kick in the year before. We're already on the books for all his money in 2026 because his $40M based became guaranteed in March (think it already was though because of the injury guarantee).

This makes a trade more likely than a right cut.

 

[Johannes44]

I don't think Dak is looking over his shoulder, nor do I think Milton could challenge him for the starting QB position. But, I also don't think Dak will make it through this season without being injured. Dak's body is starting to fail him just like Romo's body did to him. The real question is, when Dak gets hurt, will we see Grier or Milton? I've seen Grier play, I'd like to see what Milton could do if given the chance over the span of a few games. One thing is for sure: Milton presents the only real dual-threat QB on the team.

The real question is if Dak will make it past training camp.

 

[gimmesix]

Both Milton and Grier would have to SUCK in preseason for the Cowboys to bring in another QB that late in the preseason. Milton and Grier will have a full offseason with us. It would be very difficult to prepare a QB brought in off the street in August. They wouldn’t even be ready for preseason. One big reason they brought back Grier was because he knows our system. Our backup will either be Milton or Grier, unless the Cowboys take a QB in the draft and add them to the mix.

I don't think we'd be comfortable with Grier as the backup if Milton sucked. There will always be someone like a Joe Flacco who can be picked up and start the season as a backup without even needing the preseason. I mean, he's out there right now as a free agent.

 

[gimmesix]

This makes a trade more likely than a right cut.

Yeah, I think before 2028 that trading him really is the only way to unload him. It's just cost prohibitive to unload him. Doesn't mean we can't while we're paying another QB hardly anything, but it would be a big hit even as a June 1 cut.

 

[Polkton31]

The real question is if Dak will make it past training camp.

I'll bet Dak does the absolute minimum he has to in training camp. So, he should survive it unscathed.

 

[KJJ]

I don't think we'd be comfortable with Grier as the backup if Milton sucked. There will always be someone like a Joe Flacco who can be picked up and start the season as a backup without even needing the preseason. I mean, he's out there right now as a free agent.

We were comfortable enough to sign him despite Flacco being a free agent. If the Cowboys wanted Flacco they could have signed him. The Cowboys are familiar with Grier and he was a cheap signing. They obviously want Milton to win the backup job. He’ll be given every opportunity like Lance was given. Don’t see him being given most of the preseason snaps. They’ll split them up more evenly between him and Grier depending on how they perform in camp. If we were to make another move at QB it would be during the draft or prior to training camp. They want their backup QB to be fully acclimated to the offense and the receivers.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Much like other "derangement syndrome" claims...it's just a smokescreen and a shield against FACTS. Dak was carried by the best back and o-line in the league with a HOF tight end. His collapse in 2017 when he was asked to do it with average WR...well...he's never been able to do much without significant help. Which is why paying him $60mm was the dumbest move in the last 10 years.

Yeah, that's why Dak won Rookie of the Year. So the voters were wrong as well? Plus, Dak has been a constant top 10 rated QB throughout most of his career.

 

[conner01]

If Dak was a true teammate, and no reason why he should not be. He will take Milton under his wing and teach him.
I have not watched the video yet, maybe it is mentioned.

Dak has no reason to be concerned otherwise. If anything his contract and Jerry dictates he will be the starter.

Exactly

 

[big dog cowboy]

They obviously want Milton to win the backup job. He’ll be given every opportunity like Lance was given.

Wait, what??? What "every opportunity" was Lance given? In the 2 years he was a Cowboys the fans constantly complained because he wasn't getting any playing time at all. I mean NONE. Not even some garbage time snaps to speak of.

His 34 game Cowboy career ends up with just 1 start and 41 career passing attempts. Once again it comes down to player mismanagement and McCarthy. Lance's name is another on the list of players he failed.

 

[KJJ]

Wait, what??? What "every opportunity" was Lance given? In the 2 years he was a Cowboys the fans constantly complained because he wasn't getting any playing time at all. I mean NONE. Not even some garbage time snaps to speak of.

His 34 game Cowboy career ends up with just 1 start and 41 career passing attempts. Once again it comes down to player mismanagement and McCarthy. Lance's name is another on the list of players he failed.

He got most of the snaps in preseason and didn’t look good. Everyone who covers the Cowboys said he didn’t look good in camp. He couldn’t beat out Cooper Rush. He didn’t even deserve to get the start he did. He didn’t play very well in that game. Lance is the one who failed and he’s failed with two NFL teams. The Chargers will likely move on from him after the 2025 season if he even makes the team. He’s a bust.

 

[KJJ]

His 34 game Cowboy career ends up with just 1 start and 41 career passing attempts. Once again it comes down to player mismanagement and McCarthy. Lance's name is another on the list of players he failed.

They should have started him when the Cowboys were officially done but McCarthy was trying to save his job and needed to win games. Rush was better than Lance. Even the Joneses weren’t pushing for Lance to start sooner than the season finale because they knew he couldn’t play. Lance had 6 attempts against Philly as a situational QB and threw a pick.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Lance is the one who failed

From the day the trade was made the story on him was simple - he needed snaps. He never got them. That's not his fault.

 

[KJJ]

From the day the trade was made the story on him was simple - he needed snaps. He never got them. That's not his fault.

He never got them because he lost the backup job. He was given every opportunity to win the job in preseason and had he won it he would have gotten plenty of snaps replacing Dak. All of us wanted him to win the backup job but he failed.

 

[big dog cowboy]

He never got them because he lost the backup job. He was given every opportunity to win the job in preseason and had he won it he would have gotten plenty snaps replacing Dak. All of us wanted him to win the backup job but he failed.

There was no way he was beating out Rush. He was too raw. Too inexperienced. He needed snaps. He needed playing time. We know what Rush could do. Giving him any snaps was dumb. The Cowboys had 2 years with Lance and completely blew it. I'm glad he's gone so all the debate about him is finally over.

 

[KJJ]

There was no way he was beating out Rush. He was too raw. Too inexperienced. He needed snaps. He needed playing time. We know what Rush could do. Giving him any snaps was dumb. The Cowboys had 2 years with Lance and completely blew it. I'm glad he's gone so all the debate about him is finally over.

He was entering his 4th NFL season and had 4 NFL starts. He had enough opportunities to look better than he did. It didn’t take long for the 49ers and the Cowboys to give up on him.

 

[TheSport78]

Dak is easily intimated.

Remember when he got his yearly injury, Cooper Rush went 4-1 in his absence, and Dak came back and led the NFL in INTS despite missing five games?

Dak doesn't hide it much at all when he feels pressure. Milton is beating him without even taking a snap. Dak is mentally weak and it shows year after year.

Hmm what new players did Dak ever post or re-post about? The 1 minute search I just did on X and IG turned up nothing.

It’s usually on his IG story.

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

When Dak gets. injured, again. And Milton comes in and wins. Should Dak stay benched like Romo was.

yep .

 

[RonWashington]

On the other side of 30 now and with the mobility of a Wal Mart shopper in an electric scooter in Frisco , Tx Dak needs to worry about beating good teams staying healthy and doing playoff damage . Not worry about Joe Milton .

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

What exactly did you win? You said Dak sucks and won't get resigned... both times. You said Dak will never come close to MVP. You said Will Grier, Mike White, Trey Lance, Cooper Rush and now Milton would beat out Dak for the starting job.

So why would anyone listen to you? You've been wrong alot more than you've been right.

I don’t care who listens to me.

In the war against Dak over Dallas fans, like yourself, there have been lost battles along the way.

All that matter is the end and Dak will retire a loser and you will always be known as one of the posters that chose Dak over the Cowboys.

 

[acr731]

Wait, what??? What "every opportunity" was Lance given? In the 2 years he was a Cowboys the fans constantly complained because he wasn't getting any playing time at all. I mean NONE. Not even some garbage time snaps to speak of.

His 34 game Cowboy career ends up with just 1 start and 41 career passing attempts. Once again it comes down to player mismanagement and McCarthy. Lance's name is another on the list of players he failed.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LancTr00.htm

Played in 4 games and started only 1 in his 2 -year stint with Dallas. He wasn't even on the active roster in 2023. He wasn't given any chances whatsoever. I'm not sure who to blame for his lack of playing time, though, was it MM or the idiot playing fantasy football with an NFL franchise?