The Dallas Cowboys did it again, and Dak Prescott hoped that with the season on the line and legitimate expectations for a Super Bowl run from wise people both within and outside the Dallas building, this 2023 group would be different.
Prescott was a candidate for NFL MVP this season and finished with probably the best regular season of his career. The Cowboys began the wildcard round as two-score favorites over the Green Bay Packers, who feature a first-year starting quarterback and the NFL’s youngest squad.
Dak Prescott finished the 2023 regular season ranked in the top five in several significant categories for NFL quarterbacks. He entered Sunday’s playoff game against the Green Bay Packers with 4,516 yards (3rd), 36 touchdowns (1st), 9 interceptions, and a 72.5 quarterback rating (2nd).
Although some rolled their eyes when Jerry Jones and company decided to fire Kellen Moore at the end of last season — he’s regarded as one of the up and coming young and brilliant offensive minds — head coach Mike McCarthy took over play calling, and the Dallas Cowboys offense looked elite for the majority of the season.
Finally, Prescott and CeeDee Lamb developed the ideal relationship and emerged as probably the league’s best quarterback/wide receiver combination.
Aside from Dak Prescott and the explosive offense that averaged 389 yards and 30 points per game and scored 77 touchdowns in the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys’ defense concluded the season ranked fifth in the NFL.
After another dismal early playoff exit, Dallas’ brass went into the offseason with more questions than answers.
The Cowboys now face a major dilemma with Prescott. Jerry Jones declined to give him a contract extension after the season, therefore Dallas will most likely let their star quarterback play out the final year of his current contract in 2024, leaving his future with the team uncertain.
Dallas Cowboys Predicted To Cut QB Cooper Rush
Beyond Prescott, the franchise must make judgments on Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. With Lance’s salary hit jumping by more than $4 million this season compared to 2023, Rush’s future with the team is unknown.
According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Lance is projected to take over as Rush’s backup quarterback in 2024. According to a Dallas Cowboys insider, Rush’s time with the team is drawing to an end. According to Machota’s roster estimates, Dallas keeps only Prescott and Lance and releases Rush.
“The Cowboys are unlikely to keep three quarterbacks, so the backup job comes down to Lance and Cooper Rush,” Machota wrote in an article from July 3, 2024, titled “Cowboys 53-man roster projection: Trey Lance vs. Cooper Rush, decisions on the D-line.”
“While Rush is more experienced in NFL games, the Cowboys are hoping Lance will demonstrate some of the potential that earned him the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lance will have numerous opportunities to win the backup job. He would have to look terrible in camp and the preseason to not get the job.”
There is also a chance that the Dallas Cowboys will receive something in exchange for Rush rather than having to release him.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals have showed interest in Rush. Even if the Cowboys were able to acquire a late-round selection pick, it would be preferable to releasing Rush for free.
“After going 4-1 last season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback while Dak Prescott recovered from thumb surgery, Rush was a hot commodity in free agency,” Archer wrote in an April 4, 2023, story titled, “Bad weather, a delayed flight, and kismet?” How Cooper Rush’s agreement with the Cowboys was completed. “He was flying to Las Vegas that day to meet with the Raiders, and the Cincinnati Bengals also expressed interest and hoped to set up a visit.”
In any case, Rush is unlikely to be on the Cowboys’ roster in 2024.
Leave a Reply