CFZ What do we do now at QB?

75boyz

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The unpopular answer is by losing to gain as high a first round pick as possible.
I'd entertain packaging Micah too if it meant being able to draft a Williams or Maye.
We've absolutely maxed out our ceiling with the current guy with both personnel and coaching changes.

Time for a change.
 

rnr_honeybadger

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Dak needs to be benched. Done for the year. Not sure what he can do but he goes to the backup spot. Sooner you figure out what you have in Lance the more informed your decision on whether you need to draft a QB becomes. Anything outside of this is wasting more time.
 

Flamma

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There's always a team looking for more picks in the first round. Trade our 2024 first rounder to another team for their 2025 first round pick. Preferably Chicago's. All kidding aside, now we have two first round picks in 2025, add another if necessary to move up for a QB.

I haven't been paying attention to QBs in college. I rarely do. Does this class seem to be talented? Maybe grab one of them. How much worse can they be?
 

leeblair

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Dak needs to be benched. Done for the year. Not sure what he can do but he goes to the backup spot. Sooner you figure out what you have in Lance the more informed your decision on whether you need to draft a QB becomes. Anything outside of this is wasting more time.
Don't be surprised if Dak "suddenly" gets "injured" while Dallas experiments with Rush and Lance.
 

KJJ

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Unless the Cowboys start dropping games every week or every other week they’ll ride the rest of the season out with Dak and make a decision about him in the offseason. Everyone keeps talking about Trey Lance but he’s not even the backup. He didn’t spend the offseason or the majority of training camp with us. He doesn’t get many practice reps. If it were me, I would at least design a few plays for him as a situational QB this season to get him on the field. Nothing drastic at QB is going to happen while the Cowboys still have a chance. Besides Jerry is paying Dak way too much to bench him.
 

Tabascocat

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#2 is the only viable option. Dallas can’t take that cap hit next season. Draft a high QB and develop him with Lance. At some point in 2024 if things aren’t going well, mix in the promising QB during certain games or situations.
 

cowboys1732

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I will preface this with I am not a coach, so what the hell do I know. But living in Kansas City, I have many buddies and we all love to talk about football. Many non Cowboys fans have commented in years past that they thought Dak got a bad rap for the most part, that not only can he play and be successful, he can be really good at times. Obviously not any longer.

I understand his scouting reports coming out of college and sone of his limitations but he has regressed. He seems to panic, doesn’t make good decisions, doesn’t set his feet when he panics and his accuracy is horrible. He just doesn’t see and process the field. I understand it’s a new offense but he is done imho. If you are defending him, go look at the internal polling on CZ, take the time to read about him from other sources. It really is kind of hard to argue that everyone else is wrong or crazy when so many see the same thing. No he isn’t the only problem, but he is a big one on the offensive side of the ball. Yes it could be worse, so be careful what you wish for, but it could be so much better.

We have to ride it out for this season and hope a better solution comes along for next and that Jerry will move on.
 

Swagger

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Draft QB in 1st round in 2024 draft being prepared to give up a few picks to get the player the front office want within reason.

Make Prescott a post June 2024 cut to save circa $34 million.

Start Trey Lance for the 2024 season then reassess thereafter.
 

doomsday808

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Dak will have a great game against the Chargers and coming out of the bye against the Rams, the Jones' will sign him to an extension and we are all back in talking SB and buying merchandise.
 

Brax

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Well, it seems that the majority of fans are not very inclined to see Dak play much more. Given the disgrace that was the 49ers game, it's a very understandable thought. Plus, given that Dak will only have one year left on his deal after this season, it's seems that Dak's time with the Cowboys has run it's course. For the record, I felt that his deal was good in the last one because I figured that he would be a stopgap while we fixed the offense, and I thought he still could develop. Maybe he can, but time is running out, and I don't think that extending him again is wise. Plus, Jerry was hesitant about extending him last time, so it's likely he won't again. Given that Dak has likely run his course, this begs the question. So, what do we do now at QB? I think there are three viable choices.

Bear in mind, there is a coaching variable to consider and the Jerry Jones variable. The coaching variable is important to consider because, if this season spirals out of control, Mike McCarthy is likely to get sacked. So, for the sake of this variable, I will assume that Dan Quinn will be the HC next year for these scenarios because of how Jerry has managed to keep him here and how much he listens to him. I'm also assuming that Jerry gives Mike the whole season, but DQ is likely interim coach if Mike gets sacked going into the bye week. So, here are the three choices/scenarios, as I see them.

  1. Dak plays out the rest of the season, the Cowboys cut Dak with a 1 June cut, and the Cowboys draft a QB. This situation is risky because, not only are you splitting Dak's guaranteed money into two years, but you are also entering the season with an unproven option. I think this scenario only really works if the bottom falls out on the Cowboys, and it's clear that Dak is no longer an option. Thus, the Cowboys would be drafting top 15 where a day one starter is possibly available. However, as stated with the unproven issue, you'd have that QB, Rush, and Lance.
  2. Dak plays out this season, doesn't get cut, Cowboys draft a QB: in this situation, which is my preferred of the three, the Cowboys would allow Dak one more year to start, but we would have a rookie waiting in the wings competing with Lance. While they are competing and developing, Dak would be allowed to finish his tenure, and then the Cowboys can reap a comp pick when he goes to another team who would need a stop gap option. The only real downsides to this is that 1. Cooper Rush is likely out due to numbers, and 2. The contracts. However, given the salary cap increases, this is likely not a huge factor, especially given that Jerry seldom uses it for FAs, and we have 2 major contracts that would need to start being negotiated this offseason.
  3. Trey Lance starts the Giants game, and then a determination with Dak is made after the season. This scenario is my second preference. If it's clear that Dak cannot go on, then I think Lance would be someone that the Cowboys may opt to see what he is capable of. I wouldn't start him against the Chargers, Rams, or Eagles because I wouldn't want to wreck the confidence of a young QB who hasn't played in nearly a year. Instead, the Giants, Panthers, and Commanders are a good first three games for Lance to get his playing legs under him while taking on opponents that we should be able to beat rather easily. Then, we see how he goes. Essentially, he'd be Bledsoeing Dak. Then, a determination is made with Dak depending on how Lance does. If it looks like Lance needs some more developing but is good, then scenario 1 likely applies where they cut Dak, and let Lance compete with a rookie knowing we also could have traded capital with Lance. If Lance isn't very good, then the Cowboys either part ways with him and draft a QB (while keeping Dak for one more year) or they give him a chance to compete with a rookie (essentially, scenario 2). If he's not very good, then I think we either try to trade him or cut him. Then, let the roster next year at QB be Dak, Rush, and QB X. This allows the rookie to develop and be eased into the offense, much like Mahomes was with Alex Smith as the starting QB.
To me, I think scenarios two and three are the best. I think the best thing is if Dak doesn't completely collapse because then we can try to develop a QB (Lance and QB X). For me, since you must have a replacement if you're going to demand a change, I would like either Ewers from Texas or (https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/QB/1/2024) Michael Pennix from Washington to be QB X. I think either would be a legitimate QB option for us regardless of where we likely draft, but we also would have the luxury of not having to start them straight away. Of course, this heavily depends on who the OC ends up being. These are the scenarios that I see from where we are right now. It's unfortunate that it seems that it's come to this, but every player is replaceable. Also, players do run their course with a team.
There is no scenarios, Dak is in Dallas for at least 5 more years, Jerry isn’t changing he’ll go in the ground trying to prove he’s right about “his “ QB. Just listen to him he’s not blowing smoke he’s pushing back and the more Dak crashes the more Jerry will push back, it’s not about Dak good or bad it’s that Jerry will never admit he made a mistake. If MM is the Dak scapegoat the Next HC will tell Jerry how Elite Dak is and bingo he’s in, how you think MM got the job. It wasn’t the year in the barn it was telling Jerry what he wanted to hear. Dak is here to stay and Jerry doesn’t care if anyone likes it,
 

Swagger

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Dak will have a great game against the Chargers and coming out of the bye against the Rams, the Jones' will sign him to an extension and we are all back in talking SB and buying merchandise.
Aside from Quarterback, the Cowboys have a stronger roster than both of those teams so with the defense balling out giving the offense more drives with excellent field position - this could very well happen which is terrible longer term as it would be fools gold like the previous 7 years.
 

plymkr

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Well, it seems that the majority of fans are not very inclined to see Dak play much more. Given the disgrace that was the 49ers game, it's a very understandable thought. Plus, given that Dak will only have one year left on his deal after this season, it's seems that Dak's time with the Cowboys has run it's course. For the record, I felt that his deal was good in the last one because I figured that he would be a stopgap while we fixed the offense, and I thought he still could develop. Maybe he can, but time is running out, and I don't think that extending him again is wise. Plus, Jerry was hesitant about extending him last time, so it's likely he won't again. Given that Dak has likely run his course, this begs the question. So, what do we do now at QB? I think there are three viable choices.

Bear in mind, there is a coaching variable to consider and the Jerry Jones variable. The coaching variable is important to consider because, if this season spirals out of control, Mike McCarthy is likely to get sacked. So, for the sake of this variable, I will assume that Dan Quinn will be the HC next year for these scenarios because of how Jerry has managed to keep him here and how much he listens to him. I'm also assuming that Jerry gives Mike the whole season, but DQ is likely interim coach if Mike gets sacked going into the bye week. So, here are the three choices/scenarios, as I see them.

  1. Dak plays out the rest of the season, the Cowboys cut Dak with a 1 June cut, and the Cowboys draft a QB. This situation is risky because, not only are you splitting Dak's guaranteed money into two years, but you are also entering the season with an unproven option. I think this scenario only really works if the bottom falls out on the Cowboys, and it's clear that Dak is no longer an option. Thus, the Cowboys would be drafting top 15 where a day one starter is possibly available. However, as stated with the unproven issue, you'd have that QB, Rush, and Lance.
  2. Dak plays out this season, doesn't get cut, Cowboys draft a QB: in this situation, which is my preferred of the three, the Cowboys would allow Dak one more year to start, but we would have a rookie waiting in the wings competing with Lance. While they are competing and developing, Dak would be allowed to finish his tenure, and then the Cowboys can reap a comp pick when he goes to another team who would need a stop gap option. The only real downsides to this is that 1. Cooper Rush is likely out due to numbers, and 2. The contracts. However, given the salary cap increases, this is likely not a huge factor, especially given that Jerry seldom uses it for FAs, and we have 2 major contracts that would need to start being negotiated this offseason.
  3. Trey Lance starts the Giants game, and then a determination with Dak is made after the season. This scenario is my second preference. If it's clear that Dak cannot go on, then I think Lance would be someone that the Cowboys may opt to see what he is capable of. I wouldn't start him against the Chargers, Rams, or Eagles because I wouldn't want to wreck the confidence of a young QB who hasn't played in nearly a year. Instead, the Giants, Panthers, and Commanders are a good first three games for Lance to get his playing legs under him while taking on opponents that we should be able to beat rather easily. Then, we see how he goes. Essentially, he'd be Bledsoeing Dak. Then, a determination is made with Dak depending on how Lance does. If it looks like Lance needs some more developing but is good, then scenario 1 likely applies where they cut Dak, and let Lance compete with a rookie knowing we also could have traded capital with Lance. If Lance isn't very good, then the Cowboys either part ways with him and draft a QB (while keeping Dak for one more year) or they give him a chance to compete with a rookie (essentially, scenario 2). If he's not very good, then I think we either try to trade him or cut him. Then, let the roster next year at QB be Dak, Rush, and QB X. This allows the rookie to develop and be eased into the offense, much like Mahomes was with Alex Smith as the starting QB.
To me, I think scenarios two and three are the best. I think the best thing is if Dak doesn't completely collapse because then we can try to develop a QB (Lance and QB X). For me, since you must have a replacement if you're going to demand a change, I would like either Ewers from Texas or (https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/QB/1/2024) Michael Pennix from Washington to be QB X. I think either would be a legitimate QB option for us regardless of where we likely draft, but we also would have the luxury of not having to start them straight away. Of course, this heavily depends on who the OC ends up being. These are the scenarios that I see from where we are right now. It's unfortunate that it seems that it's come to this, but every player is replaceable. Also, players do run their course with a team.
My prediction, and hope, is Lance plays the final 4 games of this year. Next week will tell a lot about what’s going to happen. If we lose and Dak throws more picks then the team will be in a downward spiral. I’m concerned about this week’s game cuz our defense is beat up. If Dak and the offense can’t score against the Chargers defense then we got real problems because I don’t think we’ll be able to rely on our defense for points. If Dak throws picks he could lose the team.

So my thought is your #3 scenario where we play Lance towards the end of the season. I think Dak may regress more as the season goes on. Then we’ll cut him June 1 and either go with Lance or a rookie, or someone like Wentz on the cheap to give Lance more developmental time.
 

RustyBourneHorse

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My prediction, and hope, is Lance plays the final 4 games of this year. Next week will tell a lot about what’s going to happen. If we lose and Dak throws more picks then the team will be in a downward spiral. I’m concerned about this week’s game cuz our defense is beat up. If Dak and the offense can’t score against the Chargers defense then we got real problems because I don’t think we’ll be able to rely on our defense for points. If Dak throws picks he could lose the team.

So my thought is your #3 scenario where we play Lance towards the end of the season. I think Dak may regress more as the season goes on. Then we’ll cut him June 1 and either go with Lance or a rookie, or someone like Wentz on the cheap to give Lance more developmental time.

I could see that, but I would probably play Dak one more season while developing a young QB (unless Lance turns out to be really good).
 

CATCH17

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The unpopular answer is by losing to gain as high a first round pick as possible.
I'd entertain packaging Micah too if it meant being able to draft a Williams or Maye.
We've absolutely maxed out our ceiling with the current guy with both personnel and coaching changes.

Time for a change.

If Micah can get you Caleb Williams I would do it..
 
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