The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott appear to be in a similar predicament as the Los Angeles Rams and Jared Goff were before Goff was traded to the Detroit Lions.
Could Prescott follow in Goff’s footsteps?
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys selected Dak Prescott from Mississippi State in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Although the Cowboys intended to use Prescott as a backup to Tony Romo in 2016, Romo suffered a spinal injury in a preseason game, and Prescott was named starter for the regular season opener.
After his injury, Romo only made a couple appearances late in the 2016 season. Prescott has been the Cowboys’ starting quarterback ever then. Prescott has started 114 regular-season games and seven playoff games in the last eight seasons. He has an amazing 73-41 regular season record, but a poor 2-5 postseason record.
Prescott has received numerous distinctions over his career. He was selected first-team All-Southeastern Conference twice while at Mississippi State. In 2016, he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times. In 2023, he led the NFL in passing touchdowns and was chosen to the second-team All-Pro.
Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys in March 2021. Prescott is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agency in 2025 unless he and the Cowboys agree to an extension. According to NFL.com, “the Cowboys seem to be content to let things play out.”
Jared Goff and the L.A. Rams
Jared Goff, 29, was taken in the 2016 NFL Draft, as was Prescott. However, Goff was the top overall pick. The Rams traded up for Goff following his remarkable three-year stint at the University of California, Berkeley, where he tossed 96 touchdown passes as the Golden Bears’ quarterback1.
Goff started his rookie season as the backup to Case Keenum. However, he was chosen the starting quarterback for the last seven games of the season. The Rams finished 4-12 in 2016.
The Rams hired Sean McVay in 2017, and Goff’s career took off. The Rams had a 24-7 regular-season record in 2017 and 2018, and they went to the Super Bowl the following season. Goff was named to
In 2019, the Rams and Goff agreed to a four-year $134 million contract. According to ESPN, the connection between McVay and Goff “fractured” in 2019 and has “slowly decayed throughout the 2020 season.”
The Rams had poor win-loss records in 2019 and 2020. Throughout those seasons, McVay chastised Goff for turning the ball over too frequently.
The Trade that Sent Goff to the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford to the L.A. Rams
Following the 2020 season, Matthew Stafford requested a trade from the Detroit Lions after twelve seasons.
His request was accomplished, as the Lions traded him to the Rams in return for Goff and three draft picks. The Lions obtained the Rams’ 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, as well as a 2021 third-round pick.
Stafford led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI. However, following the 2023 season, the Lions and Rams played a wild-card game, which the Lions won.
Goff was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022, his third time getting the accolade. Stafford has been named to the Pro Bowl in both 2014 and 2023.
Is Prescott Headed Down the Same Path as Goff?
Is Prescott destined to tread a similar route as Goff?
There are obvious similarities between the two. They both got picked in 2016. They have each been selected to the Pro Bowl three times. They both signed significant contract extensions with the teams that first drafted them. They’ve both had modest success in the postseason. Prescott’s postseason record is 2-5, while Goff’s is 4-4.
Just as the Rams decided to part ways with Goff after signing him to a huge contract deal, the Cowboys do not appear to be enthused about retaining Prescott in Dallas after 2024. When asked recently about Prescott’s contract status. Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner, responded, “We are where we are. We have a contract. We’re prepared for this year, and we can see how we’re thinking as we go.” That does not exactly imply that Cowboys ownership is “all in” on Prescott’s future role with the organization.
Unless Dallas has a change of heart, it appears Prescott is on a path toward free agency or a trade reminiscent of that which sent Goff to Detroit.
